All-women fact-finding team faces wrath of mob at Narayanpatna

=============================================================
This article has been sent to you by koraputonline ( koraputonline@gmail.com )
=============================================================
Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/12/10/stories/2009121050790300.htm)
Other States
-
Orissa
  

All-women fact-finding team faces wrath of mob at Narayanpatna


Staff Reporter

Team members are suspected to have come in support of CMAS

Stones were pelted at vehicle of the team and the driver was injuredTeam had nine members from New Delhi, Chennai, Chhattisgarh and Bhubaneswar
BERHAMPUR: An all-women ‘fact-finding’ team had to face the wrath of an angry mob at Narayanpatna in Koraput district on Wednesday.
This team had entered this area from Parvatipuram area of Andhra Pradesh. This team had nine members from New Delhi, Chennai, Chhatisgarh and Bhubaneswar. According to sources this team had to face the angry mob near the Narayanpatna police station. This mob was suspected to be comprising members of the ‘Shanti Sangh’, an organization formed by non-tribals against the ‘violent’ activities of the CMAS in Koraput district.
The mob alleged that this team had come over to Narayanpatna in support of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) which had made the block tense due to its violent activities against non-tribals. They pelted stones at the vehicle of this fact-finding team and damaged the vehicle. According to sources, driver of their vehicle was also beaten up. Due to stiff opposition this fact-finding team did not find it proper to enter any other area of Narayanpatna block.

‘No police complaint’
They preferred to return to Parvatipuram via Bandhugaon. It was alleged that this team again faced similar angry mob in Bandhugaon block. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, south-west range, Sanjeev Panda said the members of this fact finding team had not filed any complaint with police. He accepted that this all women fact finding team had faced the opposition of the angry mob. According to him the vehicle of this team had crossed a police check point in Bandhugaon block in heavy speed. It had made the people of the area feel the vehicle may be escaping after causing an accident. So, the localites also pelted stones at the vehicle to stop it.
It may be noted that Narayanpatna block in Koraput district remains tense since the CMAS used violent means to oppose alleged tribal land grabbing by non-tribals and large scale illicit liquor trading in remote tribal pockets. It had also led to large scale exodus of nontribals from the area. On Nov 20 police had fired upon a group of CMAS agitators who according to police had tried to break into the Narayanpatna police station and loot arms. Two CMAS activists had been killed by police bullets. This all women fact finding team had reached Narayanpatna to enquire about the situation after the police firing and alleged police atrocities in the area.


Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly
prohibited without the consent of The Hindu