KONTA (Chhattisgarh): Tribal families treading the line of the Salva Judum are becoming increasingly restive in the face of severe Maoist attacks.

Thousands of them evacuated from affected villages are huddled in ill- equipped relief camps.

The Maoist raid on the Erraboru camp, which left 32 people killed, has exposed the poor preparedness of the security forces. The CRPF stationed nearby failed to respond when the naxalites went on the rampage.

Away from home

The tribal families have been away from their homes for the last six months and it is time to resume farm operations. Many are keen on returning, but are afraid to do so. They have reached a point of no return.

"The Maoist will kill me and my family the moment we are back in the village," says Sode Buchaiah, a survivor of the Erraboru camp attack. He is a well-to-do farmer with about 25 acres under cultivation, but has been reduced to the status of a refugee in his own land.

Mr. Buchaiah said all the Dora Koya families deserted his native village, Manikuntam, in February last. He too left the village with his two sons, both under 10 years, to make a living elsewhere and live in peace. He admitted one child to a residential school at Dornapal. His second son is reluctant to go to the new school at the relief camp. His wife joins him in roadwork. Bothearn over Rs. 110 as daily wage, besides their quota of rice.

Maoist-run camps

However, about 40 tribal families still live in Manikuntam.The Maoists, he said, maintain camps for those loyal to them. Rice and other essential commodities are supplied to them.

"We have no other option but to choose between the devil and deep sea," said Sode Dula, another settler in the camp who felt it might take two to three years to restore normality.

Many tribals, who had been playing an active role in defending the relief camps, have been promoted as special police officers (SPO).But SPOs have become more prone to the Maoist attacks. Venkat, a 21- year-old SPO patrolling the Kunta-Bijapur Highway, has no information of his parents living in the Erraboru camp after the attack. He could not leave Kunta due to Maoist threat.The civil administration had been supporting the maintenance of the camps accommodating over 40,000 tribals.The Konta, Dornapal, Injaram and Erraboru camps alone shelter about 14,000 people.

The Salva Judum activists are the main source of strength and support to them.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail