Jainoor, a small tribal town in Telangana’s Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, has been gripped by communal violence following a brutal assault on a tribal woman by a Muslim auto driver, Sheikh Makdoom, a habitual offender. The incident has escalated tensions between the tribal and Muslim communities, with many tribal leaders accusing the attacker of being part of a larger conspiracy to undermine the local tribal population. As tensions are high, police imposed a curfew and continuous monitoring the situation.
To restore order, approximately 1,000 police officers, including members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), from adjacent districts such as Adilabad, Nirmal, and Rajanna-Sircilla, were deployed to the town, and a curfew was imposed. Additionally, the district administration suspended internet services in both Kumram Bheem Asifabad and the neighboring Adilabad district. The police also set up checkpoints at all entry points to Jainoor to prevent outsiders from entering the town.
కొమురంభీం జిల్లా జైనూర్లో ప్రస్తుతం ప్రశాంతమైన వాతావరణం నెలకొని ఉంది. ఆ ప్రాంతంలో ప్రశాంతతను నెలకొల్పేందుకు, స్థానికులలో మనోధైర్యం కలిగించేందుకు పోలీస్ శాఖ చర్యలు చేపట్టింది. సోషల్ మీడియాలో రెచ్చగొట్టే తప్పుడువార్తలు వ్యాప్తి చేసినట్టయితే సంబంధిత వ్యక్తులపై కఠినచర్యలు తీసుకుంటాం. pic.twitter.com/t0rL9f13ZD
— Telangana Police (@TelanganaCOPs) September 5, 2024
Senior police officials, including Multizone Inspector General S. Chandrasekhar Reddy, Ramagundam Commissioner of Police M. Srinivasulu, and Superintendent of Police (SP) DV Srinivas Rao from Kumram Bheem Asifabad, were stationed in the town to monitor the situation.
On 5 September, Adilabad Superintendent of Police Gaush Alam, assured the public that the situation is under control and that those responsible for spreading rumors and inciting violence will face legal action. Senior police officials held talks with community leaders appealing for calm.
The incident occurred on August 31, the day of the Rakhi festival, when the 45-year-old tribal woman, resident Deviniguda, was en route to tie Rakhi to her brothers in Soyamguda village. She was lured into an auto-rickshaw by Shaik Muqdum, who claimed he was heading to Soyamguda. Realizing she was alone, the driver made advances and attempted to sexually assault her as the auto while crossing the forest area at Raghavapur village. When she resisted, he violently struck her with a heavy metal rod, leaving her unconscious and bleeding by the roadside, assuming she was dead, before fleeing the scene.
Upon regaining consciousness, she crawled to the main road and sought help. Locals and passersby swiftly transported her to the Jainoor health care unit for severe facial injuries and critical wounds. She was then transferred to RIMS in Adilabad, and due to the gravity of her condition, was subsequently moved to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, 300 kilometers away.
The victim’s brother initially filed a complaint at Sirpur (U) police station on September 1, assuming it was a hit-and-run incident. However, after the woman regained consciousness and revealed the truth, based on it a complaint was lodged on September 3, accusing Sheikh Magdoom of sexual assault, attempted murder, and violations under SC/ST Atrocities Act.
As the news break out, tribal associations erupted in anger and took to the streets demanding justice for the women. Kanakayadav Rao, the state working president of tribal associations, and other local leaders condemned the assault and called for the public hanging of Shaik Muqdum. Tribal leaders decried the incident as a stark reminder of ongoing oppression and vowed to escalate protests until the perpetrator is held fully accountable and they allege that the attack was a deliberate attempt to undermine the dignity of tribal women. Roadblocks were established across various locations in defiance, with tribal youth rallying for justice. In response, a bandh was called for September 4 in Jainoor.
As police failed to act swiftly, the protests became violent, with angry tribal groups setting fire to multiple houses, including the accused’s residence, and vandalizing market pushcarts. Muslims replied by attacking non-Muslim businesses. The rioting destroyed over 50 shops, homes, and vehicles, causing considerable losses to both tribal and Muslim groups.
ఆదిలాబాద్ జిల్లా జైనూర్ లో టెన్షన్..!!
ఆదివాసీ యువతిపై అత్యాచారయత్నం..
మూడురోజులపాటు అపస్మారకస్థితిలో బాధితురాలు..
మగ్దూంను శిక్షించాలంటూ ఆదివాసీల ఆందోళన..
స్థానికంగా ఉన్న ప్రార్థనాలయంపై దాడి#asifabad #jainoor pic.twitter.com/JOu9IVhtYr— Devika Journalist (@DevikaRani81) September 4, 2024
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders. Telangana State Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya, known as Seethakka, visited the victim at the Gandhi hospital on Wednesday, where she promised that justice would be served. She provided a financial assistance cheque of ₹1 lakh to the woman’s family and assured a thorough investigation.
Seethakka’s visit, however, was met with protests from the BJP’s Mahila Morcha, who accused the state government of failing to protect the tribal community. The BJP attempted to send its leaders to Jainoor but was blocked by police. The leaders also allege the minister is attempting to brush away rape allegations and trying to cover it, allegedly misleading the entire hatred and women-centric crime.
BJP Mahila Morcha state president Shilpa Reddy wrote a letter to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice Arun Kumar Mishra urging him to take up independent investigation and resolve the sexual assault and attempt to murder case.
ఆసిఫాబాద్ లో ఆదివాసీ మహిళపై హత్యాచారానికి ఒడిగట్టిన రాక్షసుడు మఖ్దూమ్ ను వెంటనే ఉరి తీయాలని, బాధితురాలి వైపు నిలబడాల్సిన కాంగ్రెస్ ప్రభుత్వం ఈ దారుణ ఘటనను దారి మళ్లించే ప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నదని, గిరిజన ఆడబిడ్డలకు అండగా బిజెపి మహిళా మోర్చా ఉందని, బాధితురాలికి న్యాయం జరగేదాకా తమ… pic.twitter.com/mTfOkNcqUZ
— BJP Telangana (@BJP4Telangana) September 5, 2024
ఆసిఫాబాద్ కు చెందిన ఆదివాసీ మహిళపై అత్యాచారానికి నిరసనగా నేడు రాష్ట్రంలోని అన్ని జిల్లాల్లో బిజెపి మహిళా మోర్చా కదం తొక్కింది. ఈ కేసును మంత్రి సీతక్క కావాలనే పక్క దోవ పట్టించే ప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నారని ఆరోపించింది.
మఖ్ధూమ్ మరియు అతని సహచరులపై ఎస్సీ ఎస్టీ అట్రాసిటీ, అత్యాచార మరియు… pic.twitter.com/nybH3lH3Zi
— BJP Telangana (@BJP4Telangana) September 5, 2024
Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Minister of State for Home Affairs, visited the victim at Gandhi Hospital. He said “Governments must stop the approach of condolences for deaths and compensation for survivors. They need to act firmly against the culprits and take preventive measures.”
Visited the victim from Asifabad at Gandhi Hospital today.
Such inhumane incidents are heartbreaking. Governments must stop the approach of condolences for deaths and compensation for survivors.
They need to act firmly against the culprits and take preventive measures. Praying… pic.twitter.com/Kx9Evb3UcV— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) September 5, 2024
Adilabad BJP MP G Nagesh said that incident took place on August 31 and the FIR was registered on September 3, only after the tribal organisation staged a protest, this an indication that the government was trying to dilute the case.
Dr. Shashidhar, Joint Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Telangana, visited the victim in the hospital. In an interview with Organise, he demanded that the police record the victim’s statement in the presence of a magistrate, ensure she receives better medical treatment, and expedite the case on a fast-track basis. He also expressed concerns about the suspected proliferation of Muslim settlements in tribal-designated areas, including possible influxes of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in Jainoor and the Adilabad region. He suggested that the attacks on tribal properties and women might be part of a deliberate strategy to displace and marginalize the tribal community by violating Tribal Lands Act.
He pointed out that similar patterns of violence have been observed to change the demography particularly in tribal areas of Jharkhand, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and other parts of the country.
AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi reacting to this incident, posted on ‘X’ stating “I have spoken to Telangana DGP regarding incidents of communal disturbances in Jainoor ,Asifabad District, the DGP assured me that it is being monitored &additional forces are being send and action will be taken against people who take law in their hands.”
I have spoken to @TelanganaDGP regarding incidents of communal disturbances in Jainoor ,Asifabad District ,the @TelanganaDGP assured me that it is being monitored &additional forces are being send and action will be taken against people who take law in their hands
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) September 4, 2024
Civil society organizations and tribal leaders have taken a hard stance against what they perceive as a systemic effort to undermine the tribal population. They have accused the Muslim community of orchestrating a conspiracy to dominate the region and weaken tribal society through targeted attacks on women. This pattern is visible several parts of the country, particularly focusing the dense forest areas and lands are designated only for scheduled tribes.
జైనూర్ లో ఇది కొత్త కాదు . ఇదివరకు హరిజన మహిళ పైన ముస్లిం లు అత్యాచారం చేసి హత్య చేశారు. ఏజెన్సీ ప్రాంతంలో ముస్లిం ల ఆగడాలు మితిమీరి పోతున్నాయి. pic.twitter.com/1JxS0yaNEe
— Satish Chandra (@BSChandra4BJP) September 4, 2024
KTR, the working president of BRS also stated “The government must take immediate steps to restore peace in Jainoor.The frequent law and order issues stem from the fact that the state has been without a full-time Home Minister for the past nine months.
కుమ్రంభీం ఆసిఫాబాద్ జిల్లా జైనూర్ మండలంలో ఒక ఆదివాసీ మహిళపై జరిగిన అత్యాచారయత్నం తీవ్ర ఉద్రిక్తతకు దారితీసింది. అక్కడ జరిగిన హింసాత్మక చర్యల్లో అనేక ఆస్తుల విధ్వంసం జరగడం దురదృష్టకరం. బాధిత మహిళకు కేవలం లక్ష రూపాయల "పరిహారం" ఇచ్చి చేతులు దులుపుకోవాలని రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వం…
— KTR (@KTRBRS) September 5, 2024
On May 13, Muslim mob attacked the tribal youth Laxman in Jainoor who was severely injured.
https://x.com/eOrganiser/status/1793594864401043555
Following this incident, large scale awareness meetings were held demanding punishment of culprits The tribals also held community meetings to sensitise the growing anti-tribal atmosphere to undermine their culture.
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