Nine hurt in Manugopula clash

March 23, 1996.

Polavaram, March 22: Nine persons were hurt in clash between Girijans and non-Girijans at Manugopula in Polavaram mandal on Thursday afternoon. Two Girijans were seriously injured and are in a critical condition.

The row occurred when people objected to Girijans who were celebrating on a piece of land that did not belong to them. Police admitted the injured to the government hospital and registered a case.

27 June 1996

MRO kidnapped and set free?

The Mandal Revenue Officer of the Jeelugumillli Mandal, Mr Bharatudu, was allegedly kidnapped by some non-tribal farmers and set free after three hours according to the reports reaching here.

There is long-pending land dispute between the tribal and non-tribal farmers in the mandal, and they had allegedly stopped him at Jangareddygudem on Tuesday morning.

Suspecting foul play the office staff informed the police and other higher authorities about the incident, but before they could initiate any action, the MRO was set free by the farmers, it is learnt.

Mean while our reporter from Jeelugumilli adds that the Station House Officer of the Police Station there had taken him to the farmers and after the talks, had brought him back. As per his version it was not a kidnap attempt at all.

July 12, 1996.

Eluru, July 11 : The District Collector, Mr. D. Ramakrishna and the joint Collector, Ms J. Sudharani visited many of the villages in the Polavaram mandal and took part in the shramadanam programme on Wednesday.

Before starting on the tour along with media persons, the Collector and the joint Collector participated in the shramadanam programme in the premises of the district collectorate campus and clearing the drains.

Though the girijans were not happy with the prevailing land act, they took active part in shramadanam by carrying out repairs to drains and roads. The formation of link road from Yernagudem to Dippakayalapadu village was taken up under the programme by girijans under 50 per cent shramadanam scheme.

The balance of 50 per cent (Rs.90, 000) was released by the R and B Department. And Rs.1.50 lakh by the ITDA. The girijans appealed to the Collector to run bus service on the newly-laid road. A 2.25 km road from Koya Rajahmundry to Koyalagudem connecting Gaddalavarigudem Allakattavali, Nandapuram was taken up by DWACRA group women, K Kannapuram Ashram school students.

The youth clubs and DWACRA group women participated in construction of drains by the side of Busarajupalli to Pattipalem Road . Mr. P. Singannadora, Polavaram MLA Mr.A. Raju project director ITDA and local officials and non-officials participated.

Rajahmundry : As part of the Shramadanam programme, the Uma Markendeyaswamy Temple Trust Board chairman and noted cloth merchant Mr. Chandana Ramesh planted saplings in the premises of the NVR Municipal Elementary School here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ramesh urged the students-and teachers to participate in the Shramadanam programme in a big way.

Mr. VTR Sarma, headmaster, Mr.Vasudeva Rao, town planning officer, and Mr.Chintaluri Janaki Ramaiah, superviser of the corporation schools, participated the programme, Mr. PJ Sundara Rao school teacher, proposed vote of thanks.

AIYF: The programme was also undertaken by the All-India Youth Federation, Rajahmundry city unit in the Jhansi Lakshmi Nagar of Bommuru village. The Rajahmundry rural mandal parishat vice-president, Mr. Somani Satyanarayana planted a coconut saplings.

The AIYF Bommuru convener, Mr. Marradapu Chinna committee members Mr. M. Purnachandra Rao, Mr. S. Narasimha Rao and also participated in the programme.

Tribals surround police station

July 12, 1996.

Newsflash

Eluru, July 11: The situation in the West Godavari agency area, which has been tense with the dispute between tribals and non-tribals over the tribals right over land and government's failure in implementing the Land Transfer Regulation (1/70) Act, reached the climax when the Jeelugumilli police station was surrounded by Girijans on Wednesday after three of their men were taken into custody on Tuesday night.

The Girijans are agitating in protest against the "injustice done to them", (move to amend the LTR Act). The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Brahma Reddy, said the Jeelugumilli police had taken into custody Mr. Tellam Ramudu, Mr. Kunja Chandra Rao and Mr. Manelli Subbarao, all Girijans of Kavarigudem.

On learning about the police action, about 400 tribals surrounded the police station on Wednesday and observed dharna till afternoon. The DSP and the CI, Mr. DRSN Murthy, visited the spot and pacified the agitating girijans.

At the bottom of the tribals anger are police cases booked against about 200 Girijans for "trespassing and taking away cashew yield from non-tribals" lands in Vankavarigudem.