National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) chairman Nand Kumar Sai on Tuesday directed the police to investigate the alleged involvement of forest officials in the assault on Madhu, a tribal youth at Attappady, who later succumbed to his injuries.
When the chairman visited the kin of Madhu at the Kadukumanna tribal hamlet in Chindakki on Tuesday morning, they urged him to direct the police to expand the investigation by bringing the forest officials also under the radar. The family told the commission that it was with the connivance of the forest officials that the assailants entered the forest to nab Madhu from his hideout.
“Without the forest officials informing about the whereabouts of Madhu, no one could trace him inside the forest,” his family told the commission.
The commission, which went into the case files after summoning them from the police, stressed the need to immediately resolve land alienation of the tribes in Attappady.
“The alienated land must be restored to tribespeople as early as possible. The tribes are complaining about lack of roads and drinking water. These issues must be addressed quickly by the State government,” Mr. Sai said.
“Apart from addressing burning issues like hunger and malnutrition in the tribal belt, local bodies in such regions should be equipped to ease tension between tribes and non-tribes,” he said.
Kodiyeri visits kin
CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who visited the family of Madhu on Monday, said the government was evolving steps to prevent recurrence of unfortunate incidents like the murder of Madhu in the tribal belt.
“The State government is evolving special projects to resolve issues concerning the tribes of Attappady. The Chief Minister will visit Attappady on March 2 to announce some speedy measures with long-term impact,” he said.
Ensure justice: CPI
Senior CPI leader Binoy Viswam, who also visited the bereaved family, said the family’s demand for investigating the role of the forest officials must be considered seriously by the government. “All their fears and anxieties must be taken into account,” he said.
