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Cashew orchards, farm land taken over by armed tribals

BERHAMPUR: Armed tribals have allegedly taken over patches of agricultural land and cashew orchards at Siali panchayat of Kasinagar block in Gajapati district.

They allege that these orchards and land used by them since generations had been taken over by non-tribals by deceit during past decade. It has led to tense situation and possibility of confrontation between the tribals and land lords of the area. Armed policemen have been deployed in the panchayat since Tuesday.

The tribals have got united under the banner of the tribal organisation, Lok Sangram Manch (LSM). Around 300 armed tribals of Sunkanupeta, Buchiguda and Bairiguda, Palmanguda villages are guarding the land they have taken over with traditional weapons in their arms. There are 210 landless tribal families in the area who are part of this armed show of strength. All of them are landless and some of them have only recently received patta for the land on which they were staying, said Mangada Raita of Palmanguda.

According to him, when they started to claim their right over the land patches near their villages they came to know that they had already been taken over by non-tribals. He also alleged that there were also absentee landlords who had leased out the land and orchards to other persons, without the knowledge of local tribals.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Gajapati district Gunanidhi Jena along with other revenue officials visited the area to pacify the tribals with the promise that government would try to sort out the problem very soon. Meanwhile, the landlords who have legal right over the land urged the police to clear tribals from their land.

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