The Hindu : Police fear more famine raids

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 22, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Police fear more famine raids

By Our Staff Reporter

BHADRACHALAM Feb. 21. The police forces are gearing up for a full-scale confrontation with the People's War as the latter stepped up its campaign in villages on the inter-state border with Chhatisgarh. The police fear that more famine raids could be in the offing as the left wing extremist group has justified them as the culmination of misery experienced of the tribals hit by severe drought conditions.

The PWG dalams organised a public rally in Chandruguda (a Chhattisgarh village) near Charla in Khammam district on February 14 protesting against police attacks on Moriya tribes who had been in the forefront of the famine raids. The naxalites, who had a meeting in the village, denounced `exploitation' of the tribes and the increasing influx of non-tribals from the coastal districts of the State.

In a 16-page statement released on the occasion, the PW group

had a dig at the police and the press for "branding the Gothi koya tribes taking part in the famine raids as thieves". "Theft is not their way of life," they said, adding that the famine raids were necessitated by the trying time the tribals had been experiencing in the area. The raids were in conformity with the ideological stand, they said.

The People's War said that the Moriya tribes, who work on chilli farms of farmers who migrated to the pocket from coastal Andhra, could not buy even chillies. The lands belonged originally to the tribes but they were now working on them for a wage.

Earlier, the Moriya tribals were in the habit of taking away the chillis when they find them in abundance without viewing it as a crime. They had given up the practice now. The PW stated that the tribals did not lay their hands on any of the valuables during the famine raids conducted in the area in recent months. They confined themselves to paddy. In all 530 tribals from 25 villages took part in the famine raid conducted in Ryothuvari Kothagudem in Khammam district on Nov. 29 last.

They carried away about 300 bags of paddy to their villages. Another 200 bags of paddy was looted from three farmers in Charlapalli in a famine raid on Dec. 14 last. About 300 tribals took part in the raid. Yet another raid was conducted on Chinanallabelli village near Charla on Dec. 24 last and 15 bags of paddy was looted. The PW said that similar raids were conducted on well-to-do farmers who settled down in south Bastar after migrating from coastal Andhra districts.

In Chintakunta village, near Kunta, another farmer was raided. The tribals who came in a big rally of bullock carts carried away 20 quintals of paddy. In all 1440 tribals took part in the four famine raids conducted in the area, claimed the PW squads.

They said they had collected voluntary contribution to the tune of Rs 2.3 lakhs from party sympathisers to take up relief measures in the area. The PW flayed the police for allegedly planning to send the migrant Moriya tribes back to Bastar from border areas.

The police forces have stepped up patrolling in villages on inter-state border. Since the PW had specifically targeted the migrant farmers settled in the area, they started deserting tribal pockets.

The police firing on tribals who came in as a rally to Edugurallapalli in Khammam left one tribal girl killed about one and a half months ago. The incident, the police said, acted as a deterrent for tribals and, consequently, there was letup in situation. But now the PW groups operating from the South Bastar villages were once again at it, they said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Bedlam over Naidu's remark on Sonia

Don't politicise drought: CM

Security tightened at Tirumala

Police fear more famine raids

Historic Cumbum tank dries up completely

Cong. leader survives bid; aides retaliate

12 Singareni mines to be `converted'