Police 'hired' to quell tribals' stir against alumina plant
  
Paresh Rath / Koraput
  
Rayagada district is known for its large number of bauxite mines. Several national and international companies eyeing this region to explore its bauxite ore. But the Kashipur area of the district is in limelight as tribals here are sandwiched between affluence of alumina and poverty. Added to this are allegations of police atrocities on the tribals.
  
After a brief halt due to opposition, the Utkal Alumina has started its project work in the area with a new rehabilitation package for the displaced. The new package is not acceptable to many villagers who allege that the company is deploying police at the site and getting the work done at dagger point.
  
The villagers allege that out of fear they are sitting at home. Police harass them even when they go to the weekly market. Members of the Prakrutik Sampad Surakshaya Parishad allege that they are not even allowed to hold any meeting in the village to discuss environmental protection.
  
The police arrested one Latra Majhi and Mukundi Saunta while they were returning after withdrawing Rs 20,000 from the State Bank of India's Dongasil branch on February 24. They were kept behind bars for more than four months.
  
Professor Bhagabat Prasad Rath, a Rayagada-based journalist, expressed his concern over the police atrocities. Police have arrested over 50 tribals from the region on fabricated allegations. And none of them are opposing the proposed bauxite exploring industries.
  
Members of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and its party workers on Friday organised a huge rally supporting the rights of the Kashipur tribals. The rally started at Totaguda junctions and ended at the Tikiri market. Out of their 37-point charter of demands, the main slogans were against the police atrocities.
  
In a memorandum to the State Government, the members demanded appointment of a CI and OIC from the SC and ST community at the Kashipur and Tikiri Police Stations. Villagers allege that the Utkal Alumina has constructed a building for the police accommodation and has deployed police to quell the possible tribal uprising.
  
Out of the two existing police outposts, one is at Dongasil, 5km away and the other at Tikiri, 10km away from the site office of the Utkal Alumina near Kucheipadar village in Kashipur block. However, the company at its campus has constructed a new police building where the OSAP's Third Battalian is accommodated.
  
  
  
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