Protest against repression of activists by Odisha government

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, July 27:

A large number of people participated at a convention to protest the  Odisha Government’s autocratic attitude in arresting under false charges poor tribals and dalits who raise their voice against police atrocities and anti-people activities in the State at the Lower PMG here today.

Acting a s the hand maiden of the Government, the police give Maoists tag to the innocent tribals and subject them to physical and mental torture on them in jails, tribal leaders alleged at the convention organised by Campaign against Fabricated Cases (CAFC) at Nagbhushan Bhavan here.

Taking about Repression of Dissenting Voices, Narendra Mohanty, convener of CAFC, said that false charges have been slapped against Human Rights activists and leaders of mass movements and workers of different political parties working for the rights of the tribals and raising their voice against anti-people activities in the state.

“The State Government is targeting its own citizens while facilitating the appropriation of the natural resources by corporate sectors. Repression, deception, threat and fabricating false cases are some of the aggressive tricks being used by the Government to put down any kind of opposition by the public,” alleged Mohanty.

Elaborating on some recent incidents, the CAFC activist said that the people’s movement in Narayanpatna had been suppressed by declaring Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) leader Nachika Linga as ‘most wanted’. Similarly, while Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxmanananda Saraswati was killed by some Maoists in Kandhamal, seven innocent tribal and dalits had been sent to jail in this connection, he added.

On the occasion, the convention put forth a seven-point charters of demands, which included withdrawal of false cases registered against the activists and organisations who fought against displacement and immediate provision of justice to the imprisoned people by taking up the trial of their cases in a special court.

Besides, it also demanded that all the prisoners and convicted persons, who have been charged in political cases for staging various people’s movements, be conferred with the political prisoner status and the Government initiate discussions with the protesters of displacement instead of suppressing their voices.

Activists Shiney Shoy of Bisthapita Birodhi Mancha Kalinganagar, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti president Abhay Sahu, Niyamagiri Suraksha Samiti member Raj Kishore Sunani, Lower Suktel Movement leader Satya Banchhor and Nissan magazine editor Lenin Kumar shared their experiences on the occasion.