The Hindu : National : Tribals chase away bidders for land

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Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

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National

Tribals chase away bidders for land

By A Correspondent

RANCHI, SEPT. 29. Keeping the State police on tenterhooks, a handful of tribals chased away more than 100 bidders aspiring to purchase tribal land here today. The bidders had turned up today to participate in an auction organised by the Jharkhand State Housing Board.

Twentythree plots in the heart of the town were up for auction and 122 bidders turned up at the board office here. Just before the proceedings were to start , a group of tribals stormed the venue, raising slogans against anti-tribal forces and chased away the bidders along with auction officials. They took over the podiumand smashed the windowpanes.. Many of the demonstrators were women and they dared the Arjun Munda Government to confiscate their land.

They warned police of "dire consequences" if they tried to apply force.

The Board's Managing Director, Sarwanand Singh,cancelled the auction after consulting the two government officials The Rapid Action Force has been deployed.

Later talking to this correspondent, Mr. Singh said: " The chunk of land to be auctioned was not at all tribal land. Such claims were unjustified.He criticised police for remaining a "silent spectator."

Refuting the Board's claim, the tribal leaders such as Ratan Tirkey said the tribals had documentary evidence about their ownership.

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