om e 's Ali a - Land ss De elo en - Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, India Office

In sum, it was a total reign of terror
by the police and the district officials
with the deployment of about 500
civil and armed police. The whole
operation war personally managed
and co-ordinated by the Inspector
General (IG) police, Bastar under the
strict instructions given by the chief
minister, Chhattishgarh to show the
tribals their real position in their land.
The message was very clear. A
conscienceless state government
was so keen to invite foreign capital
that it not only suppressed peoples’
right over livelihood resources, but
ignored constitutional provisions,
overlooked the legality of its actions
and even the criminal nature of its
offences. This government was seen
to go to any extent to suppress
resistance and butcher dissidents.
Any voice of dissent was silenced
with the most brutal police force,
and people subjugated to comply
with the dictates of the state.
Eventually most of the affected
villagers accepted the cheques under
threat. They were clearly told that if
they did not accept the cheques, they
would be beaten up and sent to jail
like their fellow villagers.
Organised Response
The land acquisition process had
been pursued with force and
terror, village people had been
sent to prison indiscriminately, and
compensation cheques in many
cases were handed over by force.
The due process of law was violated;
democratic process centred on the
gram sabha had been ignored in a
Scheduled V area.
The future of democratic institutions
in Chhattisgarh seems under great
threat.
Proposed Steel Plant by Tata
Group in Dantewada District
The issue of land acquisition for Tata
Steel Plant in Lohandiguda block of
Dantewada district has continuously
been under dispute. It started on
February 23, 2005 when higher
officials of Tata visited Chhattisgarh
to review the prospects for their
project. On June 4, 2005 a MoU
was signed between Government
of Chhattisgarh and Tata for an
investment of 10,000 crores rupees.
Tata officials visited Lohandiguda
area on October 20 looking for 4000
ha. of land. They identified 2160
ha. in Dabpal, Dhuragaon, Bade
Paroda, Bade Dharaur, Belar, Badanji,
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