The Hindu : Probe sought into firing on adivasis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Probe sought into firing on adivasis

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 20. Members of the Opposition LDF brought the proceedings of the Kerala Assembly to an early halt today demanding a judicial inquiry into the police firing on Adivasis at the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad district on Wednesday.

After making a vain bid for the adjournment of the proceedings to discuss the police action, the Opposition members trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans against the Government and the police bringing the proceedings to a hasty end.

Amidst the commotion, the House went through the motions of considering the Kerala Value Added Sales Tax Bill 2002. The Opposition members, who arrived wearing black flags and holding placards denouncing the Government, had earlier boycotted the question hour.

Infiltration alleged

The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, and other leaders alleged that extremist groups, such as the Peoples War and the LTTE had infiltrated into the Adivasi ranks taking advantage of the Government's kid-glove handling of the over-a-month-old occupation of the wildlife sanctuary by the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha.

The Adivasis had become restive owing to the Government's failure to keep its promise to provide land to all landless tribals before December 31, 2002. The police had in the first place failed in checking occupation of the sanctuary and then in evicting them without bloodshed, the LDF leaders said.

The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, admitted that the Government had gone soft on the Adivasis, but added that it had done so because of the feeling that being the most marginalised group in Kerala society, even their excesses should be viewed with empathy.

This should not, however, be seen as a weakness and there was no question of the Government condoning the `armed uprising' under whatsoever pretext. The police, he said, were forced to open fire at Muthanga because the Adivasis had erected checkposts restricting entry into the area they had occupied and taken three forest personnel and 16 of their helpers captive.

Although they were released later, the tribals had once again taken police personnel captive. They were doused with kerosene and the tribals kept on threatening to kill them.

Later, one of them was fatally hacked. The police launched the operation after observing all the legal formalities and warning the Adivasis several times. When bursting of teargas shells and lathicharge failed to produce the desired results, the police opened 15 rounds of fire.

Altogether, 13 police personnel, one forest official and 31 tribals were injured in the incident. The happenings at Muthanga were most unfortunate, but that would not stand in the way of the Government's efforts to rehabilitate the landless tribals, he said.

Govt. claim questioned

The CPI(M) Legislature Party deputy leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who sought leave for the adjournment motion, said the death of Adivasis in police firing was the first such instance in the history of Kerala.

He questioned the Government's claim that only two lives had been lost in the face-off between the tribals and the police and wanted to know whether things would have come to this pass had the Government kept its word to give land to the landless tribals.

He cited reports that the PW and LTTE elements had infiltrated into the Adivasi movement and asked the Government to take appropriate lessons from it. The Government, he said, should order a judicial inquiry to bring out all facts about the police action.

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