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Let NHRC team visit Muthanga to spike rumours on toll: People's Watch

By S. Annamalai

MADURAI March 1 . A team of the National Human Rights Commission should immediately be despatched to Muthanga, Kerala, to scotch rumours on the number of Adivasis killed in the February 19 police action there, the People's Watch-Tamil Nadu said.

The incident occurred in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary when tribal activists under the banner Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha clashed with personnel of the Police and Forest departments to prevent their eviction from forest land.

On the information gathered by its fact-finding team which visited Wayanad and Kozhicode a few days ago, the People's Watch said there was sufficient evidence to suspect that more than six members of the AGM could have been killed. The NHRC should urgently despatch one of its special rapporteurs, along with B.D. Saxena, pointperson on Dalit and Tribal issues, besides a member of its national core group of non-governmental organisations from the north in view of rumours that the number of deceased could have easily crossed 100. That the media and civil society organisations had been prevented from entering the forest area after the incident lent credence to the rumours.

The People's Watch also urged the NHRC to direct its team to take possession of all records seized by the police from the AGM at the Thagarapadi habitation on February 19. The register was the only record which indicated the names of the Adivasi families, who had settled in the three habitations within the Muthanga Forest Range. A verification of the list would dismiss the fears of many more Adivasis having "disappeared".

The NHRC team should ensure adequate medical attention to those injured in judicial custody in the Kozhikode and Kannur prisons. As the Kerala Government already provided a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to the family of a deceased constable, the same gesture should be extended to the families of the Adivasis killed in firing. The NHRC should also ensure free access to the media to the Muthanga forest and the three Adivasi habitations at Thagarapadi, Ponkuzhi and Amukthy for it to provide accurate information to the public.

The People's Watch fact-finding team led by R. Thilagam comprised a representative each from the Tribal Associations for Fifth Scheduled Campaigns, Salem, and the Adivasi Munnetra Sangam, Gudalur, and a freelance journalist.

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