TRIBALS - 2012 - Indian Social Institute

Bai, despite being aware about the threats she was getting from the alleged rapists. "Had the police or the
administration acted on the complaint of the woman that she was being threatened by those involved in
the rape incident, she could have been saved from them," Rai told reporters after holding a closed-door
meeting with the Collector Chandrashekhar Borkar and SP, Bhagwant Singh Chouhan. Ms Rai said that
the victim had also approached SC/ST Police Station and the SP, but they did not bother to act on her
complaint. The Commission submitted its report to the state government with a recommendation to take
strong action against those responsible for the incident. Meanwhile, police have arrested the woman
identified as Rani Yadav allegedly involved in the crime and sent her to jail while the main accused
Rajesh Kirar and three others are absconding. Imarti Bai, a tribal woman, who had accused five persons
of raping her daughter, was allegedly murdered by the latter after she refused to withdraw the complaint
against them, according to police. The incident occurred in Hamlapur area here on March 23 when the
accused barged into the residence of the woman and shot her dead, they said. Two weeks ago, Imarti Bai
had lodged a police complaint alleging that the youths had raped her daughter, who was studying in Class
VII. (NDTV 26/3/12)
Tribal outfit calls strike to protest GTA survey (6)
Kolkata: The Adivasi Vikash Parishad has called a 48-hour strike in the Terai and the Dooars region to
protest against the physical survey of the area by the high-power committee on the Gorkha Territorial
Administration. The survey will be conducted by the district magistrates of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri
districts this month, as ordered by Justice Shyamal Sen, chairman of the committee set up to determine
the territory of the GTA. All tea gardens in Terai and Dooars will be shut during the bandh and dispatch
will also be stopped. Birsha Tirkey, president of Adivasi Vikash Parishad, said, “We have been ditched by
the state. We had given enough time, but the government did not understand our problem. So, if a
movement is needed to prove our point, we have to start a movement. We will not let our land go to the
GTA. We will not allow the committee to conduct a survey here.” The AVP will organize a movement from
April 1, demanding immediate dissolution of the committee. They will hold rallies every day in the region
to stop the Gorkhas from holding meetings in the area, said Tirkey. “We will never go to the hills and clash
with the Gorkhas. But if they come here and threaten our existence, we will not sit idle. The tribal
population in the area is feeling deceived.” Police and administration will be on alert from April 1. AVP
leader Rajesh Lakra said, “We have submitted a written letter to the district administration saying that if
the Gorkhas make a forced entry here, there will be a law and order problem.” (Indian Express 27/3/12)
State moves a step towards Bosusco Paolo's release (6)
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Saturday assured the two Maoist-named negotiators, B D
Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty, to release some incarcerated persons to secure release of Italian
Bosusco Paolo, resulting in the duo announcing a virtual halt in talks, official sources said. However, the
government was still struggling on how to initiate a dialogue with the kidnappers of Laxmipur MLA Jhina
Hikaka, with hectic back channel efforts to rope in the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), which the
government describes as a Maoist front, for talks. Sources said some ruling party politicians are trying to
persuade CMAS leaders to respond positively to chief minister Naveen Patnaik's appeal on Friday to
come to the discussion table. "Nothing positive has emerged so far," a source disclosed. Sharma and
Mohanty, who have since March 22 been mediating on behalf of the Sabyasachi Panda-led Odisha State
Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist) to free Paolo, said they had communicated the rebels' demands to
the government. As the government wants more time, they saw no point in waiting any longer, they
added. "For the past three to four days I am only sitting," Sharma remarked. "The issues are complicated
and the talks are yet to yield result. Since the government needs more time to examine the demands we
need not wait here," Mohanty added. Both said they would come for discussions whenever the
government would ask them to. Hoping that the state government would consider the 13-point demands
placed by Maoists, the mediators appealed to the abductors to let go of Paolo on humanitarian
consdierations. "We appreciate the state's effort in taking a serious view of complex issues plaguing
tribals," Sharma said, adding, "We will be happy if the most important chapter concerning justice begins
with withdrawal of cases against those struggling for their legitimate rights as citizens." The negotiators
made the announcement after discussing with three government officers led by home secretary U N
Behera. "We told them that the demands are being examined," Behera said. Official sources said, the