Tribals' detention flayed

Tribals' detention flayed

Special Correspondent

India Press

23rd August 2006

HYDERABAD: Samata, the NGO that works among the tribals, has condemned the police action in threatening and detaining 11 tribals when they were protesting against launch of mining operations on their lands in Thuburthi and surrounding villages in Anantagiri mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Monday.

In a statement, Ravi Rebbapragada of Samata, said the action was atrocious as the police were supposed to protect the tribals, rather than do the bidding for others out to exploit the tribal areas for commercial gain. It was unfortunate that the tribals who belonged to an area famous for the landmark Samata judgment of the Supreme Court, should be subjected to such ill- treatment.

The tribals belonging to Karakavalsa and Rallagaruvu villages were called to the Anantagiri police station after they resisted the attempts to start operations for mining calcite, mica, `china clay' and white clay, he said.

The tribals stopped them from using poclaines and other machinery. Police warned the tribals against repeating the action while detaining 11 of them.