As per a pre-scheduled programme against police excesses, hundreds of tribals under the leadership of Biramitrapur Independent MlA George Tirkey staged a demonstration and Jail Bharo agitation at Chikatmati on Thursday to protest the ultimate grabbing of tribals’ land illegally by corporate houses in nexus with Government officials, police, land mafia and corporate agents.
A representation being signed by the tribals to the CBI Director said that Sundargarh is a Schedule district which comes under Schedule V of the Constitution. Transfer/transaction of land of Scheduled Tribes in the area are prohibited as per provision of Article 244 (1) Para 5 of the V Schedule of the Constitution.
The Government of Odisha has also enacted various laws to protect transfer of land to safeguard the tribal interest. But shockingly this law is just in pen and paper. Powerful lobbies being hand-in-glove with corrupt Government officials related to Revenue and Forest Departments are violating the Constitutional provisions and laws in broad daylight. While tribals oppose such unlawful activities, they are booked and put behind the bar by police imposing serious Sections of IPC against them, the representation alleged.
The representation citing certain examples of violation of Constitutional provisions revealed that at Kuchaita village of Gurundia tehsil, nearly 50 acres of forest and revenue land which cannot be mutated was acquired by the Idco changing its Kissam and finally allotted to Dua & Dua Company. Similarly at Marangpidhi under lathikata tehsil, 24 tribal ryots have been forced to vacate land and it was allotted to Mahavir Ferro Alloy after acquired by the Idco. Even, the victim tribals were not paid a single penny. Seven tribals were also put in jail for protesting such illegal activities.
At Chikatmati village under lathikata tehsil, Gochar Kissam of land was converted and allotted to Varitas Corporation after being acquired by the Idco. In another incidence, 18 acres of Gochar land was allotted to SAI Valley at village Jamuna Dipa under Kuarmunda tehsil. Besides, many more examples are there where the lands are acquired without Gram Sabha approval though it is mandatory in a Scheduled area. But such types of unlawful activities are prevailing in the area with the connivance of corrupt Government officials. When tribals oppose it, they are forced to languish in jail by the police in false case, alleged Tirkey.
Source said that while 10 platoons of police are deployed on the demonstration venue, five more platoons are kept reserve in the Brahmani Taranga PS to control any eventuality.