The Criminal Negligence of the Government is the Real Reason for the Attack on Dalits of Laxmipet of Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh
Four Dalits were murdered in the attack by backward caste section on Dalits in Laxmipet village of Vangara mandal in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The backward caste people were incited by the local feudal lords. In this attack more than 30 people were wounded from both sides. Rytu Cooli Sangham (Andhra Pradesh (RCS-AP) condemns this serious attack on Dalits.
Let us see the background for this incident. In 1977 by paying compensation government had acquired land for the construction of Madduvalasa reservoir at the confluence of Suvarnamukhi and Vegavathi rivers. The displaced peasants were rehabilitated near Mutyalamma tank. But out of the acquired land 250 acres remained vacant at the back of reservoir. That land is being cultivated by those peasants from whom the government originally acquired it. Most of this vacant land belongs to the backward caste people. Dalits are demanding a share in this land as it now belongs to the government. In the name of avoiding tensions, the government officials imposed ban on cultivation of this land by both the castes. This decision led to creation of animosity between the people of both castes. In this back ground several clashes took place between them in the past. Many times complaints were filed and allegations and counter allegations made by the two sections and tensions are mounting. A police picket was posted in the village three months back. Beyond this the government had not taken any corrective steps to ease the situation. Moreover, on the pretext of security arrangements for on-going by-elections, the police picket was withdrawn.
Taking this as an advantage, some of the BC persons with the full backing from the local feudal forces attacked the dalits with country made bombs and spears killing four dalits. More than 30 people were injured on both sides.
The entire responsibility for this ghastly incidents lies with the government as it wantonly dragged on the land dispute for a long time without trying to find an amicable solution.
Whenever an incident takes place, it has became a nauseating regular practice of the Chief Minister, ministers and higher officials to visit the affected people, shed crocodile tears, announce compensation to the affected people and to declare that the culprits would be punished. Afterwards incident take place. The they will conveniently forget the issue and never try to resolve it.
The government knows pretty well that the police picket will not solve the problem that arose between BCs and dalits on the right to land. Yet it never went beyond looking for a solution than police picket. It is futile to expect from these exploiting class leaders to solve this problem by allotting the land to all those who are in need of it.
The semi-feudal relations prevalent in Indian society are still nourishing and supporting the hierarchical caste system. In the rural areas the hegemony of upper caste landlords over the lower castes is continuing. Attacks and atrocities on people have become common occurrence. People are deeply under the influence of Manuvada culture. The backward castes, which were belittled and attacked by the high caste landlords all these times, now took the same attitude towards the dalits who are considered as lower than them. This is the influence of Manuvada. In India, caste division is not only division of labour but division of workers.
The unity of the poor people in Laxmipet strengthens only by defeating the policies of the ruling classes who are nourishing the Manuvada culture. All the landless are to be consolidated on class orientation to fight against the landlords. Then only the land issue will be solved in the favour of all the landless people belonging to any caste.
The RCS(AP) is calling upon all the poor to be ready for united struggle for solving the land issue. It is high time to understand that exploiting rulers and ruling parties shed only crocodile tears to get votes in the election season.
We demand
- To punish severely all those who are involved in the attack on Laxmipet dalits. The ruling party leaders and local tyrants who planned this attack should be arrested immediately.
- To pay compensation to the families of victims and to allot land to Laxmipet dalits and poor BC people.
14 – 6 – 2012 S.Jhansi
Vijayawada President
R C S ( A P )
