Tamil Nadu   

200 held for bid to march to Chennai

— PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

SEEKING JUSTICE: A rally demanding implementation of the findings of the Justice Sadashiva Commission of Inquiry is being taken out at Sathayamangalam on Sunday.

SATHYAMANGALAM: The Sathyamangalam police on Sunday arrested more than 200 persons who tried to march to Chennai to demand that the State Government implement the findings of the Justice Sadashiva Commission of Inquiry, which probed allegations of excesses by the Special Task Force against tribals during its search for forest brigand Veerappan.

The police arrested 211 persons, including 87 women, for taking out the procession without permission. The arrested included tribals, members of the Tamil Nadu Pazhangudi Makkal Sangam, an organisation of tribals, and the Communist Party of India.

CPI State secretary D. Pandian urged the Government to take action against policemen who he alleged had committed atrocities against tribals and others. “While payment of interim relief, as suggested by the Commission, to a few of the victims is welcome, the government’s failure to act against the policemen found guilty has hurt the tribals.”

Mr. Pandian sought at least minimum punishment, and suggested that even a public apology would do. Instead, he said, the Government had rewarded the policemen with medals and promotions.

As for the disbursement of compensation, he said the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments were yet to provide the relief, amounting to Rs. 61 lakh, to 13 persons.

He wanted the States to provide relief to all the affected people, expedite cases pending against tribals and others in courts in Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam, Chamarajanagar, and Mysore. The Tamil Nadu Pazhangudi Makkal Sangam demanded action against the police personnel and compensation for the 72 affected persons who were still facing trial in courts.

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

The Government has questioned the rationale behind the CPI’s agitation.

An official release said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Saturday showed government orders on the compensation to Mr. Pandian and explained the details of the compensation package. At that time, Mr Pandian did not dispute them. Yet, the party had gone ahead with its protest. Its members courted arrest as they did not have police permission. When the Chief Minister came to know about it, he directed officials to release them.

The release said the present regime, within five months of its coming to power, released Rs. 20 lakh in interim payment to the victims, pending the decision on the recommendations of the Sadashiva Commission. Of the 89 victims, 38 belonged to Tamil Nadu and the rest were from Karnataka. Though the Commission had asked the two States to give the solatium, it was Tamil Nadu which first disbursed the interim relief. Subsequently, accepting all the recommendations, the Government, in February 2007, sanctioned Rs. 1.5 crore. This amount had also been disbursed. Karnataka was yet to give the relief money, the release said.

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