Maoists firm on wishlist

BHUBANESWAR/KORAPUT: Even as the hostage crisis drags on, the Srikakulam-Koraput division of the CPI (Maoist) has announced that stopping Operation Green Hunt and release of all tribals from jails are the two main demands. A press note signed by Daya, secretary of the Srikakulam-Koraput division of the CPI (Maoist), alleged that the torture, atrocities and raids on tribals by the police have been continuing and there is no signs of stopping them. Referring to the police firing in front of the Narayanpatna police outpost on November 20, 2009, it said leaders of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) K Singanna and Nachika were killed in it. One K Sitanna of Dumsila village was taken into custody and killed as per plan and that was  projected as an accidental death, it said and added that similarly, one anti-landlord activist A Narayana was killed by landlords. The murder was passed off as an accident, it added. In the name of combing operations, police, goondas and peace  committees are committing numerous atrocities and torturing women, the note said adding that the Greyhounds from Andhra Pradesh, security forces, SOG and peace committee raided a village in Bandhugaon and arrested 14 youths after torturing them. The note stated that to kill CMAS leader Nachika Linga, ‘Operation Linga’ was started and raids were conducted. They further alleged that tribal lands have been occupied by non-tribals and tribals are made to slog in their own lands. CMAS launched ‘Jami Agitation’ in which thousands of people are participating. It alleged that instead of providing drinking water to the people, the Government encouraged liquor shops in tribal areas. To protest this thousands of women and youths joined hands and launched anti-liquor struggle, it added. The State Government and people’s representatives, instead of solving problems of tribals, are sending forces to suppress the tribals and agitations. The Government, which cannot solve even one genuine problem of people, has no right to blame us, it said. The Government betrayed the Maoists by not releasing over 250 innocent tribals languishing in jails as agreed during the release of Vineel Krishna last year, it said.