The Hindu May 1, 1999

REPORT ON KOTTURU CASE SOON

Kottagudem, April 30:

The ITDA project Officer, Mr. Praveen Prakash, said here on Thursday that the enquiry report on the police lathicharge on the Kotturu tribals would be furnished by May31.

He said that his enquiry covered two issues establishing legitimate ownership of he 40 acres of land in the enjoyment of a non-tribal farmer, Mr. G. Panduranga Rao of Akinepalli village for which the tribals had been staking their claim and the police section on January 30 .

SP WHO SOLVED TRIBAL LAND ISSUE TRANSFERRED

By Our Staff Reporter

The Hindu. April 24, 2000.

KHAMMAM, April 23.

The much-talked about 'Khammam model' of approach to the tribal land issue will be missing its schemer. The superintendent of police, Mr. P.S.R. Anjanelu, who had successfully silenced the rebellious Tribals by ensuring them of their due, has been transferred to Kurnool . He handed over the charge to Mr. Rajarathnam Naidu on Sunday.

His stint, which lasted two and half years, has seen the rise and fall of the tribal agitatin. At no point of time, the police lost their cool and restraint. Nearly, 4,000 acres of land which had been in the illegal occupation of the well-to-do non-tribal farmers was handed over to the landless Tribals and the lands were transferred without bloodshed.

Strange are the ways he adopted to deal with the Tribals. He devoted much of his time for tribal relations. By calling them to his camp, giving them a patient listening and attending to their problems, he maintained a live channel of liaison with the tribal leaders. There were occasions when the Tribals made representations to him for small official favours.

'Touch no money' was his advise to the police personnel

Whoever was posted in the tribal areas, particularly the two mandals of Aswaraopet and Dammapet, which had occupied centre stage of tribal, non-tribal face off? The police officers from the rank of sub-inspector working in the area were all the time abreast with details of tribal lands and Government lands in the illegal enjoyment of non-Tribals.

The non-Tribals who had to give their claim over the lands which were not their's were also happy for a different reason. The tribal agitation which resulted in sporadic violence in the neighbouring West Godavari had hardly any impact on the normal life in Dammapet and Aswaraopet. The non-tribal properties were given all protection.

Almost every landless tribal in the two mandals was given land ranging from one acre to four acres. Some of them were lucky enough to get orchards developed over the years by the non-tribal farmers.

A marked change he had brought about in the police stations in the district was the dealing of the department personnel with the public. For the past two years, the calls made by the public to the police stations were being received with a mandatory 'namaste. It has also been made obligatory on the part of the police personnel to receive well all those approaching them with a complaint or grievance.

Deccan Chronicle July, 2000.

STATE'S MOVE TO AMEND ACT 1OF 70 CONDEMNED

FROM OUR BUREAU

Dammapet (Khammam), July7:

The Forest Area Tribal Association has condemned the attempts of the State government to amend the Andhra Pradesh Land Transfer Regulation Act, also known as 1 of 1970 Act and warned that the tribal s would launch State-wide agitations against the move. Talking to newsmen on Friday, Associations, s Aswaraopet division convener Kanithi Laxman Rao called upon tribals to hit back the government attempts on the Act's amendment.

Criticizing that the government gesture was "anti-Constitutional, anti-tribals and anti-democratic," he said it was not proper for the Telugu Desam government gto harm the Act. Referring to land was being alienated despite the Land Transfer Regulation Act being in force.

If the government amended it , the tribals would lose all their livelihood , he said. Asking the glovernment to refrain from such attempts, he demanded that the Act be implemented strictly in the Agency area otherwise the Chief Minister would have to taste wrath of the tribals.

Tension as Tribals Attack Paddy Crop of Non-tribals

Deccan Chronicle August 28, 2002.

From Our Bureau

Khammam Aug 27: Tension prevailed in Malkaram village under Dammapet mandal after the tribals destroyed the paddy crop in three acre belonging to non-tribal farmers on Tuesday.

Tribals led by Soyam Venkateswara Rao descended on the paddy crop being cultivated under the Krishnamma tank and damaged the crop by crushing the plants.

Recently, the tribals objected to farmers cultivating the land was part of the local tank. They obstructed the transplantation in the field. The revenue officials conducted a meeting with the tribals and non-tribals and clarified that the land was not part of the tank and it was a patta land.

Tribals, who are not satisfied with the clarification by revenue officials, are waiting for an opportunity.

Dammapet sub-inspector Bhojaraju and Aswaraopet sub-inspector Ramoji Ramesh rushed to the spot and reviewed the situation. But the tribals were back in their villages by the time the police reached the spot.

Police forces are deployed at Malkaram village to prevent untoward incidents.