Thirty seven people including 13 women belonging to Santali community were arrested in the wee hours today allegedly for occupying a portion of the State Bus stand and setting up tents.
The arrests was made under a special operation launched under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha and Superintendent of Police Anup T Mathew, official sources said.
The sub-divisional officer (Dumka), Sudhir Kumar told newsmen that on being informed about the development in the state bus stand, the district administration has promulgated prohibitory order under section 144 Crpc on May 7 but it did not help the administration from ousting the illegal occupants.
The district administration has left with no option but to launch an operation as tribals were not bothered to vacant the place despite a case lodged in this regard under Dumka Police station on Friday, he said.
They have entered the almost defunct state bus stand, cleared the bushes set up tents and started living over 8 acres and 17 decimal land belonging to the government, he said.
Claiming that the tribals were making bows and arrows in the camps, Kumar said police has recovered a large number of sharp weapons, bows and arrows including some incomplete, Chinese-made generators and food preparing items.
