Malkangiri: Peeved over the violence unleashed by Maoists in this district, tribals for the first time came out strongly against left wing extremism calling their fellowmen to join hands and fight against the menace.
The coming together of two tribal outfits – the Zilla Adivasi Sangh and the Adivasi Ekta Manch – against Maoists is a welcome sign and can be construed as a ray of hope for the district reeling under insurgency.
The tribals’ ire against the ultras was felt after several posters were found at Telarai Square under Kalimela police limits and in Mudulipada under Khairaput police limits in this district Thursday. These posters state that, the ultras are killing innocent tribals wrongly accusing them of being police informers and torching vehicles and equipment engaged in road construction projects.
The ultras have shown no mercy to the tribals despite many of them having joined their outfit and sacrificed their lives fighting for them, the posters said.
Maoist outfits, especially those led by non-tribals and Telugu leaders, have never taken note of the sacrifices made by tribals and only harass them by branding them as police informers. They also loot their houses and drive them out of their land, the tribal outfits said through the posters.
The torturing of tribals has become a practice for the Maoists, who often use them as shields against the administration and security forces. The posters also stated that 15 innocent tribals were killed during the encounters at Silakota and Tandiki in Padia block as non-tribals escaped by pushing the tribals to the front.
Maoist leaders Udaya and Ramakrishna alias Budha managed to escape by using some of the tribals of cut-off regions as shields, leading to the death of nine tribals.
The frequent killings, loots, assault and expulsion of the residents from their native land have turned life hell for tribals, said a poster stuck at Telarai Square by the Zilla Adivasi Sangh.
Similarly, the Adivasi Ekta Manch in a poster stuck at Mudulipada expressed its wish for development and questioned the opposition to road works at Bonda ghat by the ultras.
Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena said the authenticity of the posters are being verified. PNN