MADHYA PRADESH-Death of a Tribal

AN Indore daily had reported on January 28 that earlier that month a tribal had been killed and another injured ''in an encounter with the police" near Alirajpur, a tehsil headquarters in the adivasi- dominated Jhabua district. According to the police, on the afternoon of January 9 the DSP of Alirajpur was travelling to nearby Ambua when he spotted four tribals "walking in a suspicious manner, dragging a goat with them''. The DSP stopped his vehicle and challenged them But instead of stopping, they fled and, after taking up positions behind the roadside bushes, started shooting arrows at the police party. (The Bhils of Jhabua carry bows and arrows as a part of their dress.) The police party fired three shots. Two bullets hit Aap Singh, one in the chest and the other in the abdomen. He was killed instantaneously. Two of the tribals fled from the spot, while Gamer Singh, brother of Aap Singh, attempted to attack the DSP, But the DSP's driver hit Gainer with his rifle butt and overpowered him.