VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP IN CRIMES AGAINST SCHEDULED TRIBES

Abstract

The victims of Scheduled Tribes are the individuals who suffer harm, exploitation, or injustice due to their socio-economic disadvantages, geographical isolation, and historical marginalization. Understanding the relationship between victims and offenders plays a vital role in criminological research, as it reveals the interactions that lead to crime. Factors such as poverty, illiteracy, and a lack of legal awareness make tribal communities more vulnerable, which ultimately hinders their access to justice. As we know, the Indian Criminal Justice System has always been centered around the offenders. However, the rights and rehabilitation of the victim, who has to live with the consequences of the crime, have been rarely overlooked. The System's focus must shift equally from punishing the offender to protecting the victim’s rights. Their representation, compensation, and assistance also needed to be given a higher priority. This research was conducted among 304 victims across all twelve tehsils of the Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh. As per the SC & ST (PoA) Act, 1989, all victims were generally victimized in two forms, i.e., heinous or serious in nature. The study aims to find out the victim-offender relationship in the commission of a crime and to reveal the major reasons for the victimization of a crime. The samples were collected using a survey method to gather comprehensive data for the in-depth study. The findings indicate that 31.9% of the victims were criminalized by their neighbors, and 26% of the offenders committed the crime due to personal enmity with the victims. The study suggests that literacy, employment, and legal awareness can help reduce instances of victimization in the tribal regions of India.