Act against fakes: Tribals

Expressbuzz, Jan 29, 2010
BALANGIR: Muscle-flexing, thousands of tribal men and women today took out a rally brandishing their traditional weapons, seeking action against fake tribals.


This rally, the tribal leaders maintained, will be the last peaceful rally.

Henceforth, the struggle will take a violent turn.

Giving the final warning to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the leaders articulated the sentiments of the tribals present in the rally and indicated that there would be no more peace rallies in future. “Henceforth, there will be violent protest. We won’t disclose our future course of action now,” said Braja Kishor Singh Bhoi, president of Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangha (ZAKS).

He said the State Government is playing hide and seek.

In order to avoid law and order problem, there was adequate police arrangement.

Around five platoons of force were deployed. Despite that the tribals not only staged a demonstration in front of the collectorate, but also covered the whole town brandishing weapons. Earlier, the tribals took out three such massive rallies in support of their demand.

ZAKS had identified 347 fake tribals in Balangir district in the last three years and a list was given to district administration for further action. “Although we had given the list to the administration, it has been able to take action in eight cases only,” said ZAKS secretary-general Niranjan Bishi.

While the Centre is taking action without losing time against fake tribals, why the State Government is sluggish? he asked.

Sources said, in Sonepur, Boudh and Kalahandi, ZAKS identified 154, 172 and 82 fake tribals in the last three years. Barring Boudh, action has not been initiated in other two districts.

ZAKS said in Boudh, although caste certificates of 11 persons had been cancelled, action has not been taken against them.