Violent protests erupt in southern India as tribals demand death penalty for accused
by Aditi VermaAround 1,000 tribal men and women in southern India’s resorted to violence, damaging properties belonging to businessmen of one religion while demanding the death penalty for an auto driver accused of attempting to rape a tribal woman and brutally assaulting her in southern India’s Telangana.
The incident took place at Jainoor Mandal headquarters in Asifabad district on September 4.
Visuals showed during the protest, tribal men and women went on a rampage, setting buses and vehicles on fire and smashing everything in sight. The scene was chaotic and terrifying, with flames, smoke, and shattered glass everywhere, creating an intense atmosphere.
Jainoor Mandal in the Asifabad district witnessed violent protests on Wednesday as around 1,000 tribal men and women took to the streets, demanding the death penalty for an auto-rickshaw driver accused of attempting to rape and murder a 45-year-old tribal woman. The protesters targeted properties belonging to businessmen of a specific religion, causing significant damage.
The accused, Shaik Muqdum from Sonupatel village in Jainoor, was arrested by Asifabad police on charges of attempting to murder and rape the tribal woman from Devuguda village. According to Asifabad DSP P. Sadaiah, the incident occurred on August 31 when the woman hired Muqdum’s auto-rickshaw to visit her parents at Soyamguda village.
As the auto-rickshaw traveled between Raghavapur and Soyamguda, Muqdum allegedly tried to rape the woman. When she raised an alarm, he stopped the vehicle, grabbed a large stick, and struck her on the head in an attempt to kill her. Believing she was dead after she lost consciousness, Muqdum abandoned her on the roadside. Passersby later discovered the unconscious woman and informed her family, who rushed her to a hospital in Sirpur (U). Upon regaining consciousness, she narrated her ordeal, leading her brother to complain to the police.
The police have booked Muqdum under charges of attempt to murder, rape, and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Meanwhile, tribal rights organizations staged a “rasta roko” (road blockade) at Jainoor Mandal center, demanding strict action against the accused and a thorough investigation into the incident. They expressed concerns over the safety of tribal women and warned of intensified protests if their demands were not addressed.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among the tribal community, with protesters emphasizing the need for justice and stronger measures to protect tribal women from such heinous crimes.