VHP and Bajrang Dal men, carrying sticks and hockeys, told them to ``leave within an hour''. The activists were accused of being anti-Hindu, and of trying to convert Adivasis. At least one photographer was beaten up. The police remained a silent spectator.

Sophiya Khan of Vikas Adhyayan Kendra said they were harassed right from the first day although they had only put up a poster exhibition. Matters came to a head when they were filming their programme. VHP men thought it included shots of their men carrying arms.

They went to the guest house where the NGOs were staying and beat up the cameraman, said Sophiya. Although policemen were present, none came to the rescue. When the activists refused to hand over the videotape, the police it took it from them.

The annual fair attracts over a lakh pilgrims, mostly Adivasis. The pilgrimage includes a bath in the Nagdhara Kund, formed by damming the Meshvo. The Adivasis believe the bath washes off all sins. Women who are ill, or suffer from mental disorders, are taken for possessed, are asked to take a bath, and are sometimes beaten by Bhuvas (exorcists).

Since bathers are supposed to leave behind their clothes and most of the Adivasis are poor, the women are often clad in the bare minimum. And while they are pushed into water, everyone watches.

Mala Raval, president of the Durgavahini, the women wing of the VHP, said the social activists were ``basically Christian missionaries'', trying to convert the Adivasis. ``We will put a stop to it,'' she said.

However, Mamta Shukla, one of the social activists, said none of the 20-odd activists was a Christian.