The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Package for STF victims: Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 28, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Package for STF victims: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Steps will be taken to implement recommendations of Commission

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced in the Assembly on Thursday that the Government would announce a rehabilitation package for victims of the excesses committed by the Special Task Force (STF), which was set up to nab brigand Veerappan.

Intervening in the debate on the budget for 2006-2007, he referred to the plea of Communist Party of India (CPI) leader V. Sivapunniyam for measures to rehabilitate the affected tribals of Sathyamangalam as per the recommendations of the Sadasiva Commission. The Commission has been appointed by the National Human Rights Commission to probe the atrocities.

The Government would take all necessary steps to implement the recommendations of the Commission on rehabilitation of the tribals after holding discussions with officials concerned, besides ascertaining the availability of funds, he said.

P. Padmavathy (CPI) said the STF had committed atrocities against tribals, more particularly women, in the name of interrogation. These mentally and physically affected victims needed rehabilitation, she said.

She urged the Government to name the Tamil Nadu Open University after Communist Leader and freedom fighter P. Jeevanantham.

Land reforms

Communist Party of India (Marxist) member V. Marimuthu called for radical land reform measures to ensure redistribution of surplus land to the agricultural workers. He pleaded with the Government to hand over the administration of the Nagapattinam port to a port trust. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member N. Ramakrishnan stressed the need for linking southern rivers to end inter-State water disputes. Even while welcoming the State's initiative with regard to the Mullaperiyar dispute, he said efforts should be made to seek Centre's intervention if it took time for the Supreme Court's verdict.

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