Govt urged to begin trial of tribal under-trials

The CPI(M) and the Odisha Adivasi Adhikar Manch (OAAM) on Tuesday urged the State Government to begin trial of Adivasi under-trials languishing at different jails in the name of Maoists soon.

“Hundreds of tribals have been put into jails on false allegations of being Maoists or having links with Maoists. Most of them also don’t know why they have been arrested. This way they are being victimised. They need to be given justice,” said a letter sent to Home Principla Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy undersigned by CPM secretariat member Janardan Pati, OAAM general secretary Sala Marandi and human right activist Pradipta Nayak.

Citing the example of West Bengal’s Ranjit Sena, who had been released after spending seven years in jail without conviction, the letter alleged, “The State police are arresting tribals without any valid reason. Now who will compensate Ranjit while the State authority has no answerIJ”