Police action in Narayanpatna draws flak

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/11/26/stories/2009112652940300.htm)
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Police action in Narayanpatna draws flak


Special Correspondent

Leaders and activists of various organisations support CMAS agitation

Two Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha activists killed in police firing last weekGovernment urged to stop ‘harassing’ tribals
BHUBANESWAR: Leaders and activists of several political parties and mass organisations supporting the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) agitation for land rights of tribals in Narayanpatna area of Koraput district on Wednesday said that the tribal organisation was not a Maoist outfit and condemned police action against its members.
At a press conference here, they demanded that the Koraput district administration should immediately make arrangement for the medical treatment of the eight CMAS activists who were injured in the police firing at Narayanpatna police station last week.
Speaking about the last Friday’s firing incident in which two CMAS activists were killed and many sustained injuries, they alleged that “the killing of the two activists was a well thought out murder executed by the State police with the help of the personnel of Indian Reserve Battalion and Central Reserve Police Force and not an act of self defence.” Those who addressed the press conference were Prafulla Samantara of Lok Shakti Abhiyan, Radhakant Sethi of CPI-ML Liberation, Budha Gamanga of Lok Sangram Manch and Sivaram of CPI-ML.

‘Democratic outfit’
The CMAS was a democratic mass organisation and existed much before the Maoists became an issue in Narayanpatna area, they said.
They further said that the land lords and traders were opposed to CMAS because the organised tribals had taken back the land that was forcibly occupied by them.
The land grabbers had come together in the form of peace committees with the active support of police and ruling party leaders, they alleged. The mining companies and their potential beneficiaries were also against the CMAS as the later had organised conventions declaring that no Mali (bauxite rich mountains) in the area shall be given for mining, they said.
The activists urged the State government to stop harassing tribal people in Narayanpatna and to fulfil its promise to settle the land disputes to restore peace in Koraput.


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