A controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district after revelations that ponds reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) hereditary fishing communities were instead handed over to Muslim contractors in violation of state fisheries policy and constitutional safeguards. The matter came to light during an on-ground inspection by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo in Ashta region.
Violation of state fisheries policy
Madhya Pradesh’s fisheries policy reserves fishing rights in government ponds for hereditary Dalit fishermen belonging to Scheduled Caste communities, ensuring livelihood protection for families engaged in the occupation for generations. However, in this case, district officials allegedly bypassed the rulebook and leased ponds to a Muslim contractor identified as Atiq, who, according to authorities, was falsely claimed to be a Dalit fisherman.
“When I questioned officials why the lease was granted to Atiq, they insisted he belonged to a Dalit fishermen community. This is absolutely false. One cannot claim SC status after conversion, and Atiq is in fact from the Ashraf Muslim caste,” Kanoongo stated during his visit.
मछली माफिया मध्यप्रदेश 📌
राज्य की मछली पालन नीति के निर्देश के बावजूद सीहोर ज़िले के आष्टा में वंशानुगत मछुआरों,दलित जाति समूहों के स्थान पर मुस्लिम ठेकेदारों को तालाब पट्टे पर दिए जाने के मामले में अधिकारियों ने विवादित संस्था को विजिट किए बगैर ही जांच कर ली जबकि रजिस्टर्ड पते… pic.twitter.com/EJlGzPEFW8— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) September 6, 2025
Forcible displacement of fishermen
According to complaints received by the NHRC member, local Dalit fishermen, whose families have traditionally depended on these ponds, were forcibly displaced by Atiq and his associates. The eviction caused a severe livelihood crisis for several families in the area.
Kanoongo intervened directly, restoring the rightful claim of the displaced fishermen. He joined them in ritual worship of nets, ponds, and sacred sites before resuming their traditional fishing activities. “This is a robbery of the rights of Dalit communities. No one can snatch away the constitutional rights granted by Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he declared.
मछली माफिया मध्यप्रदेश 📌
प्रदेश के सीहोर ज़िले के आष्टा में मछली सिंडिकेट के अतीक बारी नाम के एक मुस्लिम ठेकेदार द्वारा सरकारी सहकारिता विभाग के अधिकारियों से मिलीभगत कर वंचित तबके के गरीब हिंदू मछुआरों के मत्स्य पालन के अधिकार को छीन कर सरकार के तालाब पर मत्स्याखेट हेतु अवैध…
— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) September 6, 2025
In a detailed post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kanoongo wrote: “Despite the directives of the state’s policy, in Ashta of Sehore district, instead of hereditary fishermen and Dalit caste groups, ponds were leased to Muslim contractors. Officials conducted investigations without visiting the disputed site. They falsely justified that high-caste Muslim Atiq belonged to the hereditary fisherman caste.”
He further alleged that the government cooperative department officials colluded with the contractor, enabling illegal occupation of the pond.
Restoration of rights and ritual assertion
The hereditary SC fishermen, once displaced, reasserted their rights after Kanoongo’s intervention. They performed ritual net worship and installed a saffron flag at the pond, symbolising both cultural tradition and reclamation of livelihood.
Kanoongo noted, “This act is not just about fishing rights, but about dignity. The constitutional rights of Dalit fishermen cannot be nullified through bureaucratic manoeuvring or collusion.”
Inquiry ordered
Following the revelations, inquiries have been initiated against the officials involved. The NHRC member confirmed he would continue to monitor the case closely to ensure accountability and prevent recurrence of such violations.
The incident has sparked debate in Madhya Pradesh over the protection of Dalit livelihood rights versus illegal encroachments backed by alleged administrative complicity.
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