The report was submitted on Wednesday, two days before the visit of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) team.

Though the contents of the report have not yet been made official, sources said the committee has blasted the Forest department for mishandling the issue. It has held certain political groups and activists responsible for blowing the issue out of proportion.

The report, according to sources, has recommended sincere implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006 to check the unrest among tribals and restore their trust in the government.

The Laheri committee was set up by the state government following representation to the governor by several NGOs and local leaders led by Congress Lok Sabha MP Madhusudan Mistry from Sabarkantha.

The visit by Laheri and his team to Antarsuba and other nearby villages won the admiration of local tribals as the committee is reported to have given a patient hearing to them.

It was the first official visit by a high-level government authority after the firing took place. None of the political functionaries from the ruling party or state forest minister Mangubhai Patel visited the affected tribals after the incident. Nor has the government announced any compensation for the families of the deceased persons so far.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Adivasi Ekta Parishad led by Dr B D Damor called on the governor, demanding an honest implementation of the Central Forest Act to settle claims of adivasis over forestland and a fair compensation to the victims.

Damor told Newsline that he apprised the governor about the improper manner adopted by the state government in implementing the forest laws after the firing incident.

He said if the government was really interested in the welfare of the adivasis, it should settle the claims as per law and guidelines contained in the Central Act. "Adivasis want nothing more or nothing less than what is due to them as per the Central laws," Damor, himself an adivasi, said.

On February 13, five tribals were arrested on charges of encroachment of forestland and illegal felling of some trees. Later, the police resorted to firing when some tribals went to Antarsuba forest range to seek release of the arrested persons. Two tribals, including a teacher, died in the firing, three others sustained bullet injuries.