Tribal protest continues

Statesman News service
PHULBANI, Oct. 14: Ignoring the appeal of the district administration, the Kui Samaj Samannya Samiti continued to agitate against the alleged move of extending certain tribal facilities to the non-tribals.
Led by Mr Lambodar Kanhar, thousands of tribals organised a rally and a protest meeting at Linepada under the Khajuripada police station yesterday without taking prior permission from the police, official sources said.
At least 3,000 tribals raised slogans against the government and particularly against the local BJD minister Mr Padmanab Behera and the Congress MP Mr Radhakanta Nayak.
Castigating the government in their speeches, the tribal leaders said that a section of the people like Mr Behera and Mr Nayak has started an Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Bhubaneswar and are trying to extend facilities meant for the tribals extended to a section of the non-tribals .
They also demanded that Mr Behera should be removed and stern action should be taken against the Bhubaneswar based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which had raised such a demand.
Police force were deployed in and around Linepada and the superintendent of police Mr N Bhol and the sub collector, Baliguda, Mr BK Mohapatra are closely monitoring the situation.
It may be noted that Linepada and the nearby areas had witnessed an unprecedented violence in the nineties, when the then Biju Patnaik government had failed to tackle a prolonged ethnic clash between the tribals and the non-tribals.
Over the years, the tribals have harboured a feeling that they are being exploited by the non-tribal Scheduled Caste sections.
Recently, the tribals have started regrouping themselves against yet another move by the non-tribals who are claiming certain benefits.
Sensing trouble, the district administration has appealed to the tribals for restraining themselves. However, the rally, indicated that the tribals are in no mood to listen to the administration.