Thursday, Feb 27, 2003
Thursday, Feb 27, 2003 |
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Kerala
By Our Staff Reporter
The chairman, who along with a member of the Commission, C. Chellappan, visited some tribal hamlets of Attappady on his way to Muthanga, today told presspersons that they would hold a sitting at the Kalpetta Collectorate after visiting Muthanga and take evidence from people on the firing and the incidents that followed it. Dr. Shastri said a judicial inquiry was required to bring out the truth of the incident. The Commission would direct the Kerala Government to take steps so that the incidents such as Muthanga did not happen in future. Asked about a probe by a Central agency since the State Government was one of the involved parties, Dr. Shastri said any inquiry that would bring out the truth was welcome. He described the Muthanga incident as most unfortunate and said the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, and his Government should take a sympathetic attitude to the poor tribals and provide them protection. He said he had got complaints that the police had let loose terror on tribals in Wayanad. He asked the Government to stop the harassment of innocent tribals immediately. The chairman said he considered Mr. Antony as a good person. "He will certainly take care of the tribals. He has taken steps to provide them land. But the delay in providing the promised land resulted in the tragic incident. It is a serious matter that police force was used against the tribals in Muthanga. So I have decided to visit the area. I hear that the tribals are running away from their settlements in Wayanad fearing police action. This is most unfortunate and the State Government should provide all security to them. The Commission members will meet the Chief Minister and apprise him of the situation,'' Dr. Shastri said. "I will stand by the tribals in their demand for land. I will also make some suggestions to solve the land issue. One is that if the Government is not having enough land, it should buy it using the Central tribal sub-plan funds and loans from financial institutions as there are such schemes. The Government should also implement the Kerala Scheduled Tribes Act, 1975 to get back their lost land. It is their right to get back their land,'' he said. Dr. Shastri and Mr. Chellappan held discussions with the Chairman of the Attappady Hill Area Development Society, P. K. Sivanandan, and the Collector, X. Anil, on the projects taken up by the society for the development of tribals of Attappady. They also visited the Mamana village where a comprehensive tribal settlement scheme is being implemented. Dr. Shastri directed the Collector to take steps to allot land to the tribals of Nelliampathy who have put up huts in a portion of the Government Orange Farm land proposed to be distributed to them.
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