Jainoor: Two months on, markets yet to reopen, traders mull relocation

Adilabad: The famous Jainoor market, a commercial oasis within the sparsely populated hilly areas of the agency tracts in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, is now a ghost town.

The bustling market has been closed since communal violence broke out two months ago. It has inflicted untold hardships on the common man and local businessmen. Most of the businessmen are now exploring the option to relocate from Jainoor. Tribals who worked for the business community are also jobless. According to sources, most of them are now dependent on ration from the government as they have no source of income.

Will markets reopen?

However, based on the developments during this long interregnum, the market may reopen once Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and concerned government officials meet with the aboriginal people. It may happen once repairs are undertaken since most of the shops have suffered damages in arson. Though no schedule has been prepared for the meeting, everyone hopes that it will take place sometime after the Deepawali festival.

“Yes, we too are expecting the meeting after Deepawali. There is absolute peace at this juncture,” asserted Asifabad DSP A. Karunakar as he talked about the chances of the market opening shortly and the current situation.

Amid the chaos, nevertheless, Jainoor has emerged as a shining example of what needs to be avoided in ‘protected’ tribal areas when it comes to administering them. All concerned, however, realized it after violent incidents shredded the communal fabric of the place on September 4.

120 properties burnt

After the September arson which saw burning of 120 properties either partially or fully, the police had imposed prohibitory orders. To prevent violence from spreading any further the promulgation of Section 163 BNSS (Previously Section 144 of CrPC) was resorted to by the police. The violence broke out after there was an attempt to allegedly rape a tribal woman. As a result, the law enforcers closed even the tiny section of the main road linking Jainoor with Kerameri. The damaged shops have also remained almost in the same state since the violence.

It is not as if the district administration has not proposed reconciliation among those on either side of the divide for opening the market. However, the Adivasi community is adamant that normalcy be returned only after their demands are taken into consideration.

“We want all the laws governing the Scheduled Areas to be implemented in letter and spirit. We want all the migrants who have come in after 1970 to go back to where they have come from,” a tribal leader Mesram Ambaji summed up the chief demands of the ethnic tribals here. According to sources, the local political leaders of the district are with the tribal community.

Non-tribal community upset with unconstitutional demand

The nontribals, especially the numerically strong minority community, nonetheless pointed out the ‘unconstitutionality’ of the demands. “How can you deny us the right to settle and carry out livelihood activities anywhere in the country,” a minority leader countered the tribal argument while remaining anonymous.

The tribals have also accused the nontribals living in agency areas of luring their women into marriage thereby acquiring immovable properties in the tribal women’s name. “This is an assault on our community and culture,” Ambaji added.

It is the poorer sections from all communities in this mandal headquarters that are facing hardships even when it comes to purchasing vegetables and daily rations. Most of the small-time hawkers and peddlers are forced to go to other places to earn their daily bread.

Business activity

Tribal youths, who generally are not inclined towards business, have opened small vegetable and meat vends and tea and breakfast outlets outside Jainoor limits. While those who have established businesses are facing an uncertain future as the main festival Diwali of the year has been missed by them.