All India Khet Majdoor – Kisam Sabha (AIKMKS) constituted an All India Study Committee to study the on going movement and the life of the people of Bandugam Block of Koraput district and the matters related to it.
The following is the composition of the committee:
1. Com. Subodh Mitra – Convenor of A.I.K.M.K.S. and Convenor of the Study Team.
2. Com. Sambhu Mahato, A.I.K.M.K.S. (Jharkhand)
3. Com. S.D. Bose A.I.K.M.K.S. (Bihar)
4. Com. Brahmanand Mallick C.M.A.S. (Orissa)
5. Com. K. Kotaiah, General Secretary, R.C.S. (A.P.)
Terms of Reference :
1. The movement by C.M.A.S. in Koraput and Rayagada districts.
2. The Gang Rape of C.M.A.S. activist Kirma by Sondi Caste liquor brewer.
3. The violent attacks on the people and on C.M.A.s. by the break - away faction of Ganananth Patro (G.P.) – Nachakalinga
4. The Role of the administration.
The tour of the fact finding committee.
The Committee reached Parvathipuram on 14.09.2009 evening and Charted out the programme with the help of Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (C.M.A.S.) and R.C.S. (A.P.) The team visited various villages and hold mass and individual hearing sessions.
On dated 15.09.2009, the team, to start with, visited the burnt down village Jadaba, in Bandugam Block followed by the visit to Kunthesu village of KOMARADA mandal of Viziyanagaram district, A.P. These two villages are separated by a distance of not more than 2 Km.
On way back the team conducted enquiry sessions at Kaviti and Bankini villages. The committee went back to Parvathipuram for the night stay.
On 16.08.2009, the team met Block development Officer in Bandugam and also met the I.I.C. of Bandugam police station.
The team went to the house of Suresh who was killed by the G.P. – Linga fraction. There it has fruitful interaction with the parents and the wife of the deceased and with the neighbouring residents. Then the team proceeded to Santa Sorupalli Centre where more than thousand people from 30 villages gathered. The people and the activists of CMAS provided lot of information. On the way to Bandugam, the team observed many burnt down lemon grass distilleries
In the evening the team went to attend a mass gathering of more than two thousand people at KUMBARIPUTTI Centre. It is a congregation of people from 60 – 70 villages.
On way back to Parvathipuram in the night, we once again visited villages – Kaviti and Bankini to meet the parents of the two tribal women Kidnapped by G.P. - Linga faction and kept under their custody at an unknown place since 3rd September, 2009.
The Study Team held discussion with leaders of C.M.A.S and studied their published literature. The team members have also gone through the media reports of last 6 months and also saw the O.T.V. Coverage on 16th night.
REPORT
I. A brief summary of CMAS activity
C.M.A.S. was formed in 1998 to work for the realization of the natural rights, constitutional and legal rights of the Adivasi People of Koraput district. This is an extension of the work of Rythu – Cooli Sangham (A.P.) in Paravthipuram division of Viziyanagaram district, A.P. The R.C.S. has been working in Parvathipuram since 1990, in this movement. This activity is being guided by Com. S. Jhansi. Gananadhi Patro who normally resides at Rourkela was being invited occasionally to the programmes in Parvathipuram division, Bandugam, Narayanapatna Blocks of Koraput district. Several Adivasi and Non-Adivasi comrades work day to night to build up a mass oriented massive revolutionary people’s struggles for various genuine demands and on the demand of “Adivasi land should be restored to the Adivasis” At the same time, the leadership of the movement has a clear perspective and necessity to unite the tribal people and the toiling masses and middle class that belongs to the non-tribal sections of the society. The struggle basically aims against the exploitation of Sahukar, Land-lords and “PETHAAN DARI” sections and forest official harassment.
At this juncture it is important to note that entire Adivasi people living in the forests of India has a glorious tradition of fighting back of the on-slaught of British colonial rulers and the subsequent rulers of so-called independent – India. The present struggle led by CMAS in Koraput and Raigada districts should be seen as a dialectical continuation of previous many a glorious struggles by the Adivasis to achieve their un-hinder right to forest and the land in vallies and for PODU. The people of Koraput and Raigada districts once again follow the path of struggle because of non-implementation of Act 2/56 of Govt. of Orissa and the forest rights act of 2006 of Govt. of India. The Govt. of India moving the reserved forest boundaries closer to the habitats of the tribals, has been narrowing down the elbow space of tribals. The entire fertile land in vallies are grabed by a small section of plain’s people settled in a big villagers and small towns of agency area. The forest officials have adopted methods of horrible harassment, at times seriously manhandling the adivasi men folk and commit atrocities women. Illicit liquor brewing is rampant. It is mainly undertaken by the non tribal Sondi caste people.
C.M.A.S. has been organizing the people on all these issues in democratic methods since 1998. Naturally this movement is definite blow to the various exploitative elements and to the corrupt forest officers and certain anti-people elements in the administration.
By the end of 2008 , the movement spread to more than 200 villages. Hundred of Acres of land under the illegal occupation of non-tribal rich is being taken back by adivasi’s through this organized movement. The non- adivasi poor too is provided with land by the movement.
Gananath Patro started interfering in the movement and began to give a different direction in some villages of Narayanpatna Block. He started propaganda by raising slogan that all non tribal people should be driven away from the agency areas to attract the Oriya cadres for his wrong line. He began to speak narrow national Chauvanism – the entire Andhra cadres should leave Orissa. A few Orissa Adivasi organizers are being effected by his anarchist line, the main among them are Nachika Linga and Singanna. After the huge public meeting held at Narayanpatna on 23rd December, 2008 under the leadership of A.O. B.C. Gananath Patro deserted C.M.A.S. along with Nachika Linga and Singana etc.
Since then especially since the 3rd of September, 2009, G.P. – Linga fraction is resorting to violence attack on the people following C.M.AS. and its activists and non-tribal people.
Taking advantage of these activities of G.P. and his fraction, the Sondi arrack (country liquor) brewers have also resorted to violent attacked on the villagers under the influence of C.M.A.S.
II. Violent attack by Sondi Caste Liquor Merchants
1. Gang Rape of Kadraka Kirma and burning down Jadaba village.
Kirma a 30 years old woman is an energetic activist of C.M.A.S. She is a residents of Jadaba village, Bandugam block. In that village the family of one Mandesu Lokanth is a big country liquor producer and Merchant. As a part of the programme taken by C.M.A.S., Kirma and another woman by name Papi led the militant movement against the liquor production and trade. These two women are in the forefront in the struggle for taking back the lands under the illegal occupation of Lokanth and a few of his Sondi Caste people. The struggle forced Loknath and his henchmen to vacate the village. Because of these he was planning and waiting for an opportunity to take revenge – a unjust revenge.
On September 11, 2009, Friday, the activists of a few villages around Jadaba held a meeting at the village Kuntesu.
After the meeting was completed most of the people dispersed and only a few of the activists remained there to discuss about the movement. While they were returning from Kuntesu village, under the leadership of Loknath, the Loknath and his gang attacked and captured Kirma and she was gang raped and severely beaten up. She was kept captive whole night and raped again and again and tortured brutally. During the same night, she was taken to Komugandi village centre to where all the villagers are called at the gun point, vividly told the obnoxious story of the rape on Kirma and warned women of that village that they will meet the same fate if they do not dis-associate from the activities of C.M.A.S.
The next morning (4 September, Saturday) Kirma was dragged to her village Jadaba. It was around 11.00 a.m. All most all the people were in field at that time. The armed gang ordered Kirma to put fire to the houses. She valiantly refused and prepared to die. In fact throughout the night she has been saying “kill me instead of raping me. I am prepared to be a martyr”. The same word she repeated in the village. Then the gang beat her once again and put fire to many houses after looting grain, cash of lack of rupees and few gold ornaments and chicks. Then they dragged Kirma into near by bushes and left her there.
The people informed this horrible incident to C.M.A.S. leadership. The leadership rushed to the village and brought Kirma to Parvatipuram and admitted her in the hospital and filed a complaint with D.S.P. Parvatipuram. Kirma in her statement to the police she narrated the whole terrible incident and named the 17 rapists. So far the police did not arrest a single culprit. People caught hold of one the rapists, beaten him and handed over to the police.
The study team visited this Jadaba village on 15th at 11.00 a.m. The villagers narrated whole incident and described the entire story. They further informed the team that the same Gangsters armed with rifles led by Lokanth went to the village on 15th morning around 7’O clock, and burnt down a few remaining houses in the villages and also many huts on podu field. The people requested the committee to provide protection. The committee members assured to take the whole matter to the administration and appealed to the people to remain united and not to loose heart, so that they can fight such attack in future.
While the team is leaving the village the entire villagers walked down to the Kuntesu village. There, they caught another suspected rapist and naturally in fit of just anger tried to kill him. But an organizer of C.M.A.S. immediately intervened, and pacified the people. The study team brought him to parvatipuram and presented before the media. He narrated the whole Gasty incident and he pleaded that he had not committed rape. C.M.A.S. organizer after verifying from Kirma let him go.
Another shock await Nay ! in fact it is very sad – Gananath Patro considering to be a revolutionary till the other day, gave a statement to media that Kirma is not raped.
III. Violent attack on C.M.A.S. by G.P. Linga faction.
1. The murder of Pinneti Suresh : Suresh was 25 years old. He was married and have three children between 7 – 4 years. He was hacked to death by the mob led by G.P. Linga faction on 6th September, 2009 at around 5.00 p.m. near Bansputta village. Suresh was a resident of Bandugam (Block H.Q,) He was relli by caste (scheduled case) and landless daily wage labourers.
On that fateful day, one Singana of G.P. Linga faction phoned some followers of CMAS, informed that they were torching the village Khatragada (under the influence of CMAS) and challenged to go there if they have guts. The word spread like wild fire. Hundreds of people from Bandugam and nearby villages proceeded towards Katragada. When the people went near the village Bansuputa (under the influence of G.P. Linga faction) an organized mob suddenly jumped out from behind the bushes and threw country made bombs. The scarred people ran helter – skelter and in that pelmela Pinnit Suresh fell down. He was hacked to death by some body of mob organized by G.P. Linga faction. His body lied there in pool of blood until 7th afternoon. The police was afraid to lift the dead body from the place. They sent a word to CMAS leaders. It was only after CMAS organizers and more than 1000 of their followers went to the place, the police lifted the dead body to Bandugam and post-mortem was conducted. So far no one was taken into custody for this offence.
2. Kidnap of 11 Person :
On 6th September, 2009, coming to know the word that the Katragada village was set on fire, another group of 1500 people were marching towards Katragada from another direction, when this group reached near Dandavadi village, under the Panchayat Kaberibadi, another organized group of G.P. fraction threw bombs on the people. The people felt shcok and ran in different directions. The attackers then swooped on a few people and kidnapped 11 persons. They include two adivasi women, six no-adivasis and three adivasi men.
The mother of kidnapped Kadrak Chilakamma, approached some leaders of G.P. Linga Faction in the village Sunapalamanda and pleaded to let off here daughters. She was told that they did not know where abouts of Chilakamma.
Even now the two women and two tribal man are under the control of G.P. action at an unknown place. Six non-tribal man and one tribal man was let off on 16th evening, the team was informed by the I.I.C. , Bandugam P.S.
3. In the valley lands of many villages in Bandugam Block, Lemon grass is being grown since many years. Once planted the grass will be cut thrice a year. The cut grass is put in broilers and distilled and the liquid with aroma is collected. It is said the liquid is used in medicines and in scents. So it is a cash crop until a few months back almost the entire land was under the enjoyment of no-tribals. Under the leadership of CMAS the lands are occupied by tribals recently. Then the non-tribal cultivators (many of them tenants) entered into a written agreement with tribals to the effect that the former shall once for all handover the lands to the tribals after reaping the September – October crop this year.
Then the G.P. Linga faction organized a few hundred armed adivasaids and burnt down 20 lemon grass distilleries and on 3 September, 2009. G.P. declares that lemon grass crop cultivation will not be allowed even by tribals. If any body goes against his diktat, he / she will be taken to task, G.P. declares.
So far the police do not take into custody a single person for the offence burning down distilleries.
III. The Role of the Administration
The study team met at Bandage –
1) The B.D.O., Dukhishyam Paik and Inspector I/C A.K. Jena of the Police Station on 16th September, 2009.
a) The B.D.O. conceded that so far he did not visit the burnt down Jadaba village. The team questioned why so ? and then explained the pathetic situation of the adivasi people of burnt down Jadaba village. He promised to take all possible relief measures immediately.
But when we enquired with the adivasis of Jadaba on 17thb at 4.00 p.m. we are told that no body from the administration visited the village and no relief was provided. Then the team contacted B.D.O. on phone. He said he will be visiting the village on 18th September, 2009 and relief will be provide on 19th September onwards.
b) The team of I.I/C of Bandugam P.s. at 6.00 p.m. on 16th. The team enquired whether any action is being taken in pursuance of the complaints in the contest of –
i) Murder of Suresh
ii) Kidnap of 11 persons
iii) Burning of Jadaba village
iv) Burning out Lemon Grass Distilleries
The I.I/C. replied “The culprits are taking shelter in Maoist villages. We have only one platoon force. It is not enough to go to those villages. We requested Govt. of Orissa for two more platoons as soon as that force arrives we conduct raids and arrest all the culprits”.
Conclusions :
1. Media, both print and electronic is reporting that till very recently the Adivasi area of Narayanapatna and Bandugam blocks in peaceful. But now because of the factional fight between two factions of CMAS, the situation in that area is alarming.
It is totally in accurate assessment, the fact of the matter is like this. :-
i) A small section of Sahukars, Sundhis and the like by hook or cook grabbed the entire fertile valley lands of the adivasis. The forest machinery has been continuously harassing the adivasis on one pretest or other. The entire population of Adivasis are living a life of bonded labour. Can such a situation be called a situation of calm and peace ? Definitely not, we assert.
ii) Because of countless struggles of Adivasis during the last 200 years the Govt. of Orissa brought Act. 2 of 1956. According to this Act Adivasi land can not be transferred to non-adivasi. But, alas, the entire fertile valley lands in Narayanpatna and Bandugam Blocks are under the occupation and enjoyment of no-adivasi Sahukars and Sondies. Around 1993 the Ryotu – Cooli Sangham (Andhra Pradesh) extended it’s activity from the neighbouring Viziyanagaram district to Koraput district and formed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) in 1988 and organized people on many a problem faced by tribals. The problems includes abolition of liquor and for restoration of land to the adivasis. Fro this lawful activity false cases are filed against many cadres including Pydamma, the leader of the Sangh.
So the study team is obliged to remark that the successive governments of Orissa and it’s machinery are the basic culprits for the recent so called non-peaceful situation. A real peace can be restored only when the entire agriculture land in the area – valley land and PODY land is legally allotted to adivasis and eligible non-adivasi poor. In fact CMAS is endeavoring to implement Act 2/56 and Tribal Rights Act 2006 through their mass movement.
iii) This movement in AOB area has been continuously under the guidance of Com. Visawam since 1978. Because of 30 years of persistent work by the organizers led by Com. Jhansi the mass movement took strong roots in 400 villages in this AOB area. Gananath Patro was being invited to this area occasionally since 2005 for certain legal representation to the officers. During that time Gananath Patro is afflicted with cynicism and suffering from some hallucinations. He deserted the organizations till January, 2009 and took to narrow national Chauvinism. He has succeeded to divert a few hundred adivasis into his paranoid programme and is resorting to violent attach on the CMAS and the poor non-adivasi people and adivasi people in the movement. It is mot unfortunate that he is reverting back to the suicidal path of left adventurist sectarianism.
The All India study team fervently appeals Gananath Patro to shed his cynicism and hallucination and once again embarrass the mass line.
Demands on the Government of Orissa
1) All necessary measures should be initiated and completed on war footing to implement Act 2/56 of Orissa State and Forest Rights Act 2006 of Government of India,
2) Simultaneously measures should be initiated to resettle the land less non adivasi poor who have been living there for decades by providing a maximum of 1 hectre cultivable land to each family.
3) Fully equipped Primary Health Centres should be established in each and every Panchayat Headquarter village.
4) Schools in every Panchayat should provide education upto 7th Class in Kui language. Two meal a day should be provided to all the students. Required number of teachers on permanent basis should be appointed. Enough facilities should be created for higher education.
5) Steps should be taken to provide safe drinking water to all the habitats.
6) Check dumps should be built on streams to provide irrigation.
7) ITDA should open permanent purchase centre and pay fair price to the forest produce collected by Adivasis.
Bhubaneswar
Date : 18.09.2009
(Subodh Mitra)
Convener All India Study Team
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