The first incident occurred on September 5, 2007, at Haripura village of Umarpada taluka in Surat district where forest officials allegedly tried to destroy tuber and paddy crops sowed by the tribals on forestland.

Following this incident, tribal activists sent an application to the National Tribal Commission (NTC) to review the situation. Later, NTC research officer V T Singhal visited the village and said that his report would be a part of the National Tribal Commission ‘s annual report, which is submitted to the President every two years.

The turf war over forest rights between the tribals and the foresters continue in spite of the recently enacted Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

While both Congress and the BJP have been playing politics, more so during the run up to the Assembly elections, promising the tribals forest land rights, but the implementation is yet to take place on the ground.

The tribals had tried to assert themselves during the Gujarat Assembly polls, with nearly 6,000 of them gathering at a mammoth Adivasi Mahasabha public meeting, chanting slogans-Kyado Nahin Toh Vote Nahin, (Implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006 or we will not vote).

Bhanubhai Tadvi, Adivasi Maha Sabha convenor, while addressing his fellowmen at a rally on December 1, 2007, had warned, “We have a right to this land. A handful of trained forest officials cannot deprive us of this land that was acquired by our forefathers years ago.”

Commenting on the recent incident, Jhagadia MLA, Chhotu Vasava, who is also heading the Advasi Vikas Mandal, said, “No tribal would want to cut down the trees. They are asked to do so by the superiors who are not tribals.”