The Hindu : Kerala News : Muthanga: NHRC asks for rehabilitation details

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Saturday, Sep 18, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Muthanga: NHRC asks for rehabilitation details

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, SEPT. 17. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the State Government to furnish within six weeks information about the rehabilitation of the tribal families in connection with the police firing at the Muthanga wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad district on February 19, 2003.

The Commission's order comes a day after the State Government submitted an affidavit in the High Court of Kerala on Thursday denying that the police had resorted to any human rights violation against the Adivasis during the eviction operation.

In its order, the Commission asked the Chief Secretary to furnish all documents relating to the distribution of land to the Adivasis who had been evicted from the forest and if the State Government had any plans for their rehabilitation. The State Government has also been asked to inform the Commission about the status of relief measures taken by it after the incident and the status of investigation of the seven cases being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Crime Branch (SCB), Chennai.

These directions have been issued by the Commission after the State Government informed it that as on July 5, 2004 the investigation in the seven cases was in the final stages and likely to be completed shortly. The Superintendent of Police, CBI SCB, had apprised the Government of the status of these cases and the Preliminary Inquiry (PE) into the alleged atrocities committed by the police against the Adivasis.

Relief measures

Regarding the relief measures, the Government had stated that no one connected with the incident had been allotted land and that attempts were being made to identify suitable land for all the landless families of the district. At the same time, land had already been given to several landless tribal families in Wayanad district.

The Commission had taken cognizance of the incident based on complaints filed by social activist Nirmala Deshpande and others alleging that the police had opened fire on a gathering of over 1,100 Adivasi families at the sanctuary. The tribals were protesting against the non-implementation of an agreement reached between the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha leader, C.K. Janu, and the State Government on land for the landless Adivasis.

Based on the allegations raised by Ms. Deshpande, the Commission had issued notice to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police on February 24, 2003. In response, the Chief Secretary and the DGP submitted reports justifying the action of the police in resorting to firing and asserting that the Adivasis had blatantly violated the law. However, the Commission was not satisfied with the report and recommended that an independent inquiry be held through an agency independent of the State machinery. It recommended to the State Government that it take effective steps to get the independent inquiry commenced at the earliest.

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