Last week violence erupted between tribal communities in MadhyaPradesh” India” and the police who accused them of encroaching on theforest. Police forces used tear gas and gunshots in the air against thealleged encroachers” including women and children. Policemen were hurtby stones thrown by the community members.

NGOs are now protesting the use of violence by the police. RRI Partner Forest Peoples Programme wrote a letterto Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express their disagreement with themethods employed against forest dwellers. The government is standingfirm on its position saying that fresh encroachments will not betolerated. Local authorities were asked to fence the area.

More on this available at hindu.com.