The Hindu : New Delhi News : Police firing on tribals flayed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 03, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Police firing on tribals flayed

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 2. Janhastakshep, a social group fighting against communalism, has condemned police firing and lathicharge on a gathering of over 400 tribals in the Kashipur area of Rayagada in Orissa. On Wednesday, these tribals were protesting against the government plan allowing a private company to open bauxite mine in their area when the police fired in the air and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the tribals, injuring 16 of them critically, alleged Janhastakshep here today, demanding a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Stating that it would seek the National Human Rights Commission's intervention in the issue, Janhastakshep has asked the Orissa Government to immediately call off police from the area to de-escalate the situation and penalise guilty police officers behind the incident. On the fateful day, the District Magistrate was to inaugurate the approach road to Karal village in the mining area that was protested by a strong crowd of local tribal people. However, brutal police action was without any provocation and there was a lot of resentment in the area, it added.

Alleging that the State Chief Minister, Biju Patnaik, and his party MPs were supporting the private mining firm and had also asked for crackdown on innocent tribals, Janhastakshep said tribals were fighting for their land and resources that would be usurped by the mining firm with the backing of the State Government who was blatantly violating acts to aid private mining firms.

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