*Police firing: Narayanpatna simmers with resentment* Staff Reporter *Bar association president, others condemn the incident* ------------------------------ * Two of the three roads connecting the block to the outside world blocked Incident will hamper efforts to bring peace in the area, says Collector * ------------------------------
BERHAMPUR: Tension is expected to mount in Narayanpatna block in Koraput district following the death of two Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) activists in police firing on Friday. No untoward incident was reported from Narayanpatna as yet though it continued to simmer. Out of the three roads connecting Narayanpatna to the outside world, two were blocked by felling trees. Only the Laxmipur-Naryanpatn a road was open for traffic. The Bandhugaon-Narayanp atna and Damanjodi-Narayanpa tna roads remained blocked. According to sources, tribal activists of the CMAS held a meeting under the chairmanship of their leader Nachika Linga at an undisclosed spot. At this meeting, they reportedly decided to oppose entry of police personnel into areas of Narayanpatna in future. One of the major causes of aggravation of tension was that social activists as well as CMAS were unhappy with the cause of opening fire by the police. The administration, however, claimed that they had resorted to firing when a mob of CMAS activists tried to loot arms. Charge against police But CMAS activists allege that the police opened fire when they were holding a peaceful demonstration in front of the Narayanpatna police station. They even charged the police with targeting their leaders, including their president. According to sources, Maoists had also started to encash the volatile situation in the block. As per CMAS sources, seven persons were also injured in the police firing. The injured persons were also being treated in an undisclosed location. There were also unconfirmed reports about the death of one of the injured persons. The bodies of the victims – Wadeka Singanna and Andrew Nachika – were kept at the Narayanpatna police station after autopsy to enable the family members to claim them. *Koraput Bar Association president Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, who was appointed by the government as special advocate to look after the tribal land dispute cases of Narayanpatna area, was also critical of the police firing on CMAS activists. After his visit to Narayanpatna, he said the firing itself took place in the absence of a magistrate.* *“I feel the police had fired upon CMAS activists who had come out for a peaceful demonstration,” he said. He had serious doubts on the police version of the incident.* CPI-ML (New Democracy) also condemned the police firing. Its spokesperson Bhala Chandra Sarangi s*aid circumstantial evidence hinted that it was planned firing on peaceful activists. He felt it would aggravate the situation in the area. The Orissa Forest Mazdoor Union (OFMU) also condemned the firing. *“Police fired at tribals without any provocation,” said Prafulla Samantara, convener of Lokshakti Abhiyan. *Koraput district Collector Gadadhar Parida also felt that the incident would hamper efforts to bring peace in the area.* * * ** * Leaders killed in police firing ;Statesman News Service KORAPUT, 20 NOV: Two top leaders of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) were killed as police opened fire on a irate mob at trouble ridden Narayanpatna today. The inspector of Narayanpatna police station, Mr Jagabandhu Sahu also sustained bullet injuries in the firing that rocked the entire area. Police reinforcements were rushed to the spot, prohibitory orders under Section 144 clamped and a flag march conducted to control over the situation. Narayanpatna has been on the boil for almost an year now with the CMAS leading a tribal movement for land and forest rights, forcibly occupying land, cultivating and harvesting crops. In fact , the governmnet has all along remained a silent spectator to the year long unrest and lawlessness in the area. There were allegations that the administrative apathy had worsened the situation and at times senior officers were hobnobbing with leaders of the CMAS. Police sources said today, hundreds of villagers including children stormed Narayanpatna police station objecting to the combing operations launched by the India Reserve Battalion. They alleged police excesses and harrassement. There are conflicting versions to the incident that led to police firing ~ CMAS activists allege that it was unprovoked cold blooded murder while police insist that the criminals snatched weapons from the sentry at the gate. It was in self defence that the police resorted to firing, claimed senior police officers. The criminals were out to loot arms and police had to open fire , they claimed. Though they confirmed the death of two CMAS activists including a top leader Mr Wadeka Singana and Mr Wadeka Linga, the sources were unable to say how many people were injured in the violence. According to reports, women activists were also involved in the attack which was led by Ms Nachika Linga, CMAS leader. CMAS leader Mr Gananath Patra condemned the incident and alleged that the police had resorted to unprecedented harrasment of innocent people over the last two days. In the garb of combing operations the IRB had let lose a reign of terror and villagers were protesting against such action at a time when it was harvest season, noted Mr Patra. Meanwhile, the entire region has turned into a garrison of sorts and CMAS leaders have taken to the safety of dense forests. Women folk are paniced and are either indoors or have fled to nearby forests apprehending police action. **http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/22/stories/2009112250680300.htm* -- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
