The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Forest and Environment Secretary to submit a report within six weeks regarding forceful eviction of 34 families, who were allegedly evicted by the Gotamunda villagers.
The incident occurred under the Ampani police station in Koksara Block of Kalahandi district on June 30. NHRC passed the orders taking cognisance of a petition filed by Bhawnipatna-based human right activist Dilip Kumar Das.After eviction, around 200 persons including children have taken shelter in a primary school in Nabarangpur district and the local administration was providing food to them. The victims had been living in the village of Bhatapani and Dumerpani village for the last several years and earning their livelihood by farming. Sources said that the conflict was fallout of the victims' denial to pay a certain amount to the Gotamunda villagers out of their earnings from the maize cultivation. The victims alleged that miscreants along with members of Van Suraksha Samiti (VSS) assaulted them and ransacked their homes, looted utensils, ornaments, domestic animals and threatened them to vacate the place. However, forest officials have denied their involvement in the incident saying they had not issued any eviction letter to the Tehsildar. Meanwhile, the Youth Congress alleged the involvement of a BJD member in the incident and said police are yet to take action against the culprits.
Following the incident, a peace committee meeting was held by the administration which appealed not to escalate the violence and said the victims can stay in their village but wouldn’t cut any trees or undertake any cultivation on forest land.