Jailed Councillor Divya Ahirwar Refuses Bail as Protest Grows in Madhya Pradesh

Divya Ahirwar, a young municipal councillor and law student currently held in the Panna district jail, has chosen to stay behind bars rather than apply for bail. During a jail visit this week, she told CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat and Jai Kisan Andolan figure Amit Bhatnagar that she intends to carry on her fight for displaced residents from inside the prison walls.

The Protest Movement

Ahirwar's detention has drawn widespread attention to the Chita Andolan, a campaign opposing the eviction of families affected by the Ken-Betwa project and other regional infrastructure works. Protestors are demanding proper compensation, complete rehabilitation, and a review of survey omissions that left many households out. Although supporters urged her to seek freedom through the High Court, Ahirwar maintains she was locked up simply for asking legal questions on behalf of local farmers and Adivasis. She has also complained about her arrest procedure, missing medical checks, and alleged police mistreatment.

Charges and Background

Law enforcement authorities state that Ahirwar faces multiple charges, including attempt to murder, tied to a February protest in Chhatarpur district that turned violent and injured a police constable. Her group insists the accusations are false and notes she is implicated in five separate criminal files. Coming from a humble background—her father passed away when she was in Class X and her mother works as a labourer—Ahirwar previously ran free coaching classes for Scheduled Caste and Tribe children before entering local politics as an elected councillor in Bijawar. She joined the current activism during a 2022 march and quickly became a vital organiser, rallying women across forest areas and handling digital communications for the group.

Context

Large infrastructure and river-linking initiatives in central India often displace rural communities, sparking local friction over land rights and compensation packages. Activists who step in to support these affected populations frequently face administrative pushback and legal challenges during prolonged disputes over rehabilitation.