Dongaria Kondhs of 11 villages located in the Niyamgiri Hills in Kalahandi district boycotted the polls on Thursday protesting the State Government’s apathy and police harassment meted out to them.
According to reports, 456 voters listed for the Gaudathuaguda booth of the Trilochanpur panchayat didn’t come to exercise their franchise.Four villages, Phuldumer, Kunakadu, Tadijhola and Palberi, where Gram Sabhas were earlier organised against the Vedanta Company’s mining project, also boycotted the polls.The Dongarias said they did not vote as the State failed to provide basic amenities like road connectivity, drinking water, electricity and education to them.The tribals alleged that the police arrested their leader Jilu Majhi registering a a false case in 2008.“If the State does not solve our problems, why we would believe in democracy and electoral politics,” said the tribals.