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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/09/07/stories/2009090753110300.htm)
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Two injured as Chasi Mulia groups clash


Correspondent

Sequel to attack by Bandhugaon CMAS group on houses of the other one

CMAS groups are trying to increase their support base through anti-tribal tiradeIt has seen exodus of hundreds of non-tribals from Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon
KORAPUT: Two persons from Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) of Bandhugaon received serious injuries when the two factions of CMAS from Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna blocks of Koraput district attacked each other on the road between Baunsput and Dasini in Bandhugaon block on Sunday.
According to sources, members from CMAS Bandhugaon were waiting with their traditional arms near Dasini, 2 km from Bandhugaon, and people from CMAS Narayanpatna stood near Baunsput, 5 km from Bandhugaon on the road towards Narayanpatna in the same block.
The conflict between the two groups arose in connection with the attacks by members of CMAS Bandhugaon on the houses of the supporters of CMAS, Narayanpatna on Saturday evening.
Members of CMAS Bandhugaon had also abducted about 40 supporters of the CMAS Narayanpatna from Kabiribadi panchayat and kept them at Sarpali in Bandhugaon block as hostage so as to discuss the issue of limiting their activities across each other’s borders .
Berhampur Staff Reporter writes:
On Saturday, supporters of the Bandhugaon-based CMAS activists showed up their strength through violence. Armed supporters of the organization restrained 34 supporters of the Narayanpatna-based CMAS at Katulpeta village of Bandhugaon block. It was alleged that they torched over 15 houses at Katulpeta and Kesubhadra villages.
The damaged houses were allegedly owned by supporters of Narayanpatna based CMAS. When contacted Srikant Mohanty of CMAS said they had released all restrained persons except 10, who had been kept for holding a meeting for peace in the area.

‘Retaliation’
This recent action of the supporters of the CMAS is seen to be a retaliatory action of their counterpart organisation in Narayanpatna. Three days back the supporters of the Narayanpatna-CMAS had entered Bandhugaon and destroyed 14 lemon grass processing units. They had also forcefully taken over 400 acres of land on which lemon grass had been cultivated. But the CMAS activists had alleged that the land taken over by the Narayanpatna activists was already taken over by them in the past. It had irked the Bandhugaon group.
The tussle between these two tribal organisations who are trying to increase support base through their tirade against non-tribals is also related to the CPI-ML politics in the area. The CMAS group of Naryanpatna is with the CPI-ML organisation led by Mr Gananath Patro. The CMAS of Bandhugaon area are related to a CPI-ML group active in Andhra Pradesh. The CPI-ML (New Democracy) is also active in these two blocks.
Since past few months the CMAS groups are trying to increase their support base through anti-tribal tirade. It has led to exodus of hundreds of non-tribals from Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon. The irony is that the violent Maoists are trying to encash the volatile situation in these two blocks.
The activists of CMAS recently openly alleged that the CMAS of Narayanpatna was being guided by the Maoists. In reply the Narayanpatna based CMAS made a counter allegation that the Bandhugaon group was helping the non-tribal landgrabbers in tribal areas.


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