In June 2025, a land and forest rights conflict emerged in Dewas and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh, following the demolition of tribals' homes by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department in villages located within or adjoining the Kheoni (also spelled Khivni) Wildlife Sanctuary landscape. The Forest Department razed 51 mud houses on 23 June, calling them as encroachment on forest land, displacing hundreds of tribal residents. However, villagers, predominantly forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe communities, claimed to have lived in the area for decades and highlighted their reliance on the land for housing, agriculture, and forest-based livelihoods.
The action was undertaken during the monsoon season, which intensified public criticism and distress among the affected families. The affected communities stated that they had been living in the area for 40–50 years and that the land was integral to their survival. They asserted that the demolitions were carried out without prior consultation with the Gram Sabha, without adequate notice, and without completing procedures meant to safeguard tribal habitation in forest areas. The action intensified fears among residents due to the proposed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Wildlife Sanctuary, which was expected to bring further restrictions and potential displacement.
Following the demolitions, tribal communities organised protests and demonstrations, including gatherings at the district headquarters in Sehore. Protesters demanded accountability from Forest Department officials, restoration of housing, and protection of their rights. The issue gained traction through local and state-level media coverage, prompting political and administrative attention.
Several reports noted that the affected families claimed their displacement violated protections available to tribal communities under existing laws, particularly the Forest Rights Act, 2006, though the Forest Department maintained that the evictions were lawful and necessary for forest and wildlife protection. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh, publicly supported the protesting tribal communities at the Sehore Collectorate.
Further, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, expressed displeasure over the demolitions and directed corrective action. He instructed Kunwar Vijay Shah, the state’s Minister for Tribal Affairs, to visit the affected villages, assess the situation on the ground, and ensure assistance to displaced families.
Following these interventions, the state government ordered a departmental inquiry into the demolition drive. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sehore, who was overseeing forest administration in the area at the time, was transferred. Directions were issued to provide temporary relief arrangements for the displaced families. Crucially, the state government decided to put the process for the proposed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Wildlife Sanctuary on hold, stating that no further steps would be taken until a review was completed. As a result, further demolitions were halted.
As of February 2026, the conflict has not formally ended. While eviction actions have stopped and the sanctuary proposal remains stalled, long-term rehabilitation, housing security, and resolution of land rights claims remain unresolved. The affected communities are still awaiting concrete and legally binding outcomes.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for halting forced eviction and demolition.
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled due to protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jun/30/tribal-protests-union-minister-shivraj-chouhans-push-force-mp-government-to-halt-proposed-sardar-patel-wildlife-sanctuary
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Non-implementation/violation of FRA
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Scheduled Tribe status or lack of status
Violation of free prior informed consent
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Madhya Pradesh Forest Department; Sehore District Administration; Department of Tribal Affairs, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Government of Madhya Pradesh (Chief Minister’s Office); and Madhya Pradesh Revenue Department
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Tribal communities (Scheduled Tribes) living in Kheoni Sanctuary; Tribal rights organisations and local civil society groups
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
