Karnataka - Mangalore   

`Salwa Judum' termed assault on tribal people

Staff Correspondent

Government accused of not paying attention to people's welfare

MANGALORE: "Salwa Judum" (a Gondi term meaning collective hunting) in Chattisgarh was not an uprising of tribal people against Maoists, but a massive Government onslaught against the tribal people, Kumar Buradikatti of the Revolutionary Democratic Front said at a press conference here on Thursday.

The conference was held under the banner of the "Committee for the Assistance of Tribals affected by Salwa Judum" (CATAS). The committee was set up to support "Chattisgarh Adivasi Kala Manch". A group of Adivasis from the tribe were touring the country to garner support against "Salwa Judum". The intention of the committee was not to support Maoists, but to ensure the welfare of tribal people, Mr. Buradikatti said. It was alleged that initial reports in the media of the movement being an uprising of tribal people against Maoists, was Government propaganda.

Raj Kumar of the "Chattisgarh Adivasi Kala Manch" said Adivasi chieftans, sarpanchs, and moneylenders who had been punished by People's Courts (organised under the leadership of Naxals), had been appointed as special police officers under the campaign, to hunt naxalites and their supporters.

He accused both the State and Central Governments for not paying attention to the welfare of the tribal people. Allowing multi-national companies to set up base in the mineral-rich Bastar areas of Chattisgarh, had affected the lives of the tribal people, he said.

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

Stories in this Section

These children are schooled at home
`Women faring well in SHG movement'
`Salwa Judum' termed assault on tribal people
Lok Ayukta police team probing cases earnestly
SDIT to be inaugurated in October
Volunteers given two-wheelers
In Mangalore Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu