Other States - Orissa   

Communal trouble brewing up in Kandhmal dist.

BERHAMPUR: A volatile tension is brewing between Kui tribals and Pana harijans in Kandhmal district. The recent tension is because of the demand by a section of Pana harijans to be identified as Kui tribals in official records as they speak Kui language and obey some tribal rituals. The Kandhmal district Kui Samaj Coordination Committee has vehemently opposed this attempt by Pana harijans. Secretary of this organisation, Lambodar Kanhar, says if the Government accepted Pana harijans as tribals then it would lead to violent clashes between the two communities in Kandhamal district like what had happened in 1994.

The recent tension has started due to activities of an NGO named Phulbani Kui Jankalyan Sangh formed in Bhubaneswar. The Kui tribals of Kandhamal district allege that members of the NGO are from Pana community. The NGO filed a case in the Orissa High Court demanding they be considered as Kui tribals in official records as they have similar culture and tradition like Kui tribals.

The Orissa High Court in July this year directed the administration to investigate into the matter.

But as per the Kui leaders of Kandhmal district, the Pana harijans have started claiming themselves as Kui tribals at villages in Kandhamal district, which is leading to tense situation in villages. A delegation of Kui tribals of Kandhamal district held discussions with Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern range, Satyabrata Sahu over the issue on Wednesday.

According to leaders of Kui organisations of Kandhamal district like Janmejaya Mallik, Dullabha Pradhan, Subhas Kanhar the Kui tribals who are called Kandh in Oriya are the original inhabitants of Kandhamal district. As per tribal legend, Pana community migrated to Kandhamal region from Ghumusar area when King of Ghumusar estate punished them for their criminal activity during British era.

The Kui leaders alleged that State Minister Padmanabh Behera was behind the recent attempt by Pana community for political gains.

Meanwhile, Mr. Behera has also come out with a declaration on September 1 claiming that he has no relationship with the NGO, Phulbani Kui Jankalyan Sangh of Bhubaneswar, which is at crux of the issue.

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