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Tribal agitation continues in Bandhugaon

BERHAMPUR: Armed activists of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) unit active in Bandhugaon block of Koraput district destroyed two large private teak tree plantations on Saturday.

It may be noted that this Bandhugaon CMAS unit is separate from another CMAS unit active in adjacent Narayanpatna block of the district. Around 3,000 tribals and dalit supporters of the CMAS targeted over 220 acres of teak plantations of STM Plantations, an Andhra Pradesh based plantation company. Thousands of seven to eight-year-old teak trees grown by the plantation company were cut down.

Around 120 acres of teak plantations near Gadbalsa village and 100 acres of plantation near Almonda were destroyed. After cutting down the trees the CMAS activists ploughed up the land. They also took over the land planting red flags around them. Speaking over phone the convenor of the CMAS active in Bandhugaon, Ashok Mohanty said they are planning to sow food grains on the land taken over by them from the plantation companies. “It is a show of opposition to the policy of the government that is unable to provide land to landless tribals to grow food grains yet hundreds of acres of tribal land are being handed over to outsider private plantation companies,” he said.

There was no police force to oppose this destruction of teak plantations of private company by the CMAS activists. It may be noted that several areas of Bandhugaon block also remain cut off from outside world due to road blockades by felling of trees. Although it is part of Koraput district it now only approachable by a road from Rayagada district.

Mr. Mohanty also reiterated their differences with the CMAS group led by Nachika Linga active in adjoining Narayanpatna block of Koraput district although both were fighting for similar issues like land rights for landless tribals. It may be noted that both these groups have links with two different CPI (Marxist-Leninist) parties.

According to Mr. Mohanty unlike Mr. Lingas outfit they did not want to create division between the poor in the name of land rights for the tribals.

He alleged that in Narayanpatna poor dalits were also attacked due to allegations that they had taken over tribal land. “But in Bandhugaon we are sparing the economically backward dalits who are using land in tribal pockets as we know poor should not divide on the basis of caste”, Mr. Mohanty said.

He added that his group was in favour of democratic process and had fielded candidate from the Laxmipur Assembly seat.

He alleged that the CMAS group led by Mr. Linga was towing the Maoist line and it had held election boycott rally at Narayanpatna during last election process.

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