End harassment of Kandhas: Ashram

October 20, 2008
Express News Service
First Published : 20 Oct 2008 10:35:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 20 Oct 2008 01:15:11 PM IST

BHUBANESWAR: Alleging that security forces have unleashed a reign of terror in Kandhamal district, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, a Sangh Parivar outfit working for the welfare of the tribals, today urged the State Government to stop mid-night arrest of innocent people.

While male members of many ‘Kandha’ households in the district have fled to forests fearing arrests, security personnel are conducting midnight raids without the presence of lady police and misbehaving with women members, general secretary of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA) Laxmikanta Dash told mediapersons here.

A mother of two children, Pulima Mallick of Pajaimaha village under Raikia police station, said her husband is living in jungles for over a month fearing arrest, though not a single house of ‘Pana’ Christians in her village was damaged.

With tears, Pramila Pradhan, widow of a policeman, narrated how her mentally retarded son was brutally assaulted by the security forces although he is totally innocent.

Pramila belongs to Sisapanga village under Raikia police limits.

‘‘We are living in constant fear and unable to sleep at night fearing police raid,’’ they said. Sound of a vehicle scared the villagers and people started running to jungles apprehending arrest.
Citing several instances, Dash alleged that tribal women were molested by CRPF personnel.
While police refused to register complaints of tribal women, the complainants were threatened with arrest if they pursue to lodge FIRs. Police are arresting ‘Kandhas’ on the basis of information provided by ‘Pana’ Christians. Most of the time, Christians are accompanying them in police uniform and voters’ list has formed the basis of arrest, Dash alleged.

On October 3, police raided several houses in Beheragoan and tortured women. Two minor girls of Gaonala village of Gagaguda gram panchayat under Udaygiri police limits were picked up after their mother was mercilessly beaten up. Father of the two girls has fled the village, Dash said.
The two girls were kept in the CRPF custody that night and forwarded to court the next day.
The villagers’ demand for medical examination of the two girls were ignored.

Although several women in various parts of the district were treated very shabbily by the security forces, they are not coming out with details out of shame and fear, he added.

Dash today submitted a memorandum to the State Human Rights Commission alleging violation of human rights of innocent tribals in Kandhamal district.

Comments to the above report:

What better behaviour can be expected from those who worship imported Gandhis instead of indigenous Gandhi?Not a single media - both print and TV reported this because of foreign money. Even after the naxalites admited having killed the swamiji because of the pressure brought in by christians and money given to them to train a group of locals to kill the swamiji. No Hindu victim can voice heir grievances through media. That is the freedom we enjoy. The matter will be suppressed by the media on the lines of the Nandigram killings and rapes. After all, Americans and christians supported the incident without demanding any action against the culprits. The christian priests will never demand any action but argue as emotional outbursts to justify the crime.By R.Subramanian10/20/2008 3:06:00 PM

Such sad state of affair in a secular country like India. Media should stop acting like a stooge to minorities and report atrocities againt tribals and hindus as front page stories Stop potraying minority community as victims they are not!By Adarsh10/20/2008 1:29:00

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