Andhra Pradesh

Fear grips migrant tribe

BHADRACHALAM: The residents of Bandigumpu, a decade-old Gothikoya settlement of the migrant tribe from South Bastar, are in for a rude shock.

They find it difficult to comprehend the killing of their village head -- Madivi Bandi -- by the naxalites of the CPI (Maoist). He had been the source of support for Maoists in the pocket and gave them shelter many times.

He had enjoyed good relation reportedly with the Maoist cadre operating in the borderlands and they had been frequenting tribal hamlet quite often for him.

Almost every family in the village was related to him and they too remained loyal and helpful. Madivi Bandi, left home to meet the dalam on October 4 as he was summoned. The villagers were under the impression that it was a routine call.

They had no information about his whereabouts for nearly ten days.

The Maoists killed Kovasi Bamun, another youth in the village on September 21 by branding him as an informant for the police of both Khammam and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh.

Police were on the look out for Bandi in connection with the case as his involvement was suspected.

The police, who were on the lookout for him, felt he was away to avoid his arrest in the case.

A pall of gloom descended on the village as he was found murdered and the body abandoned in the wild growth near the village on Tuesday. Neither the villagers nor the police could understand as to why he was killed. Did the Maoists suspect his loyalty?

It could also be part of the Maoist strategy to keep the Migrant Gothi Koya tribe away from voting in Chhattisgarh where the elections were scheduled for November 14 and 20 next, say the police. Bandi had planned to go back to his village in Kukanar area in Dantewada district quite some time ago. But the fear of Salwa Judum attacks kept him confined to the tribal pocket.

The status of the migrant tribes in the forest villages of Chintur was no different from him.

They are caught between the devil and the deep sea. Bhuka Venkanna, another youth from Lambada community was also kidnapped and killed by the Maoists the same day. Migrated to this area from Suryapet a decade ago, he had been plying an auto rickshaw to the forest villages in the limits of Chintur police station.

He was accused of collecting money from the migrant tribe for showing vacant land in the area to put up a new settlement.

He was reportedly tried in a ‘praja court’ in Chhattisgarh. Killing of the two tribal youths sent shock waves in the border villages. The police intensified combing and stepped up their presence to dispel the fears of the tribal communities.

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