Bhawanipatna: Tribals of the Dongria Kondh community in the Niyamgiri Hills spread over Kalahandi and Rayagada districts have appealed to security forces and Maoists not to harm them, and to allow them to live in peace, a report said.
The matter came out during a recent meeting of Dongria Kondhs at Lakhpadar on Niyamgiri Hills where the community expressed resentment over the repeated harassment by security forces and the ultras. Lada Sikka, president of Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti, presided over the meeting.
The tribals claimed that they are sandwiched between the two groups, and this has turned their life nightmarish. They alleged that the police are luring tribal boys and girls with money and mobile phones, and recruiting them as informers. Doing this, the tribals invite the wrath of the ultras.
Four youths who had turned police informers and agents attended the meeting and shared their experience. They promised not to fall into the trap and to live in peace.
The ultras raid their villages at night and beat them up accusing them of being police informers. They have also killed many tribals on the mere suspicion of being police informers.
The police also raid the villages and assault innocent tribals accusing them of helping the Maoists. The repeated onslaughts by the police and the Maoists have forced the primitive tribals to live in an atmosphere of fear.
The tribals said the government did nothing for them while they were fighting for the protection of the Niyamgiri Hills for the last 14 years.
Dongria leaders Krushna Sikka, Lada Sikka, Samba Krushika, Dadi Sikka, Trika Kadraka, Bama Sikka and hundreds of others belonging to the community attended the meeting.
PNN
