Settlement court for land disputes soon

August 8, 1996.

Newsflash

Eluru, Aug 7: The Minister for Panchayat Raj, Mr. Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao, who carried a confidential message from the Chief Minister and kept everyone guessing, however gave relief when he declared at Jangareddigudem in the midst of large number of non-tribals that a settlement court will be established soon to take up all kinds of agency land disputes and also an officer of IAS cadre will be appointed as Project Director, ITDA at Kotaramachandrapuram. The minister said this will help find an amicable solution for the agency problems.

He said wherever necessary, a survey will be conducted and boundaries will be conducted and boundaries will be settled in case of disputed lands, he assured the gathering that he will make efforts to bring normality in the area and peaceful existance of all. He said law and order will be maintained and violation by anybody, either tribals or non-tribals will not be spread.

The minister urged the people to extent cooperation and create harmony among all sections of people. He also added the police are investigating and they will file cases on all persons creating trouble and damage to public property.

Former marketing committee chairman and local Congress leader, Mr. Karatam Rambabu, while addressing the gathering, said that the non-tribals have no intention to unnecessarily drag tribals by creating false complaints and appealed for peaceful living of the two sections.

The local tribal MLA, Mr. Punam Singannadora, Mr. Karatam Krishna Murthy and others were present. The Collector, Mr. D. Ramakrishna, Joint Collector, Mr. M. Subrahmanyam, Superiendent of Police, Mr. Punna Rao and others accompanied the minister.

The minister called the non-tribals injured in the clashes are undergoing treatment.

Suspense Over Real Cause of Attack

The Indian Express

August 9, 1996.

Eluru, August 8: The real cause behind the attack on non-tribals at Busarajupalli of West Godavari districts still incomprehensible.

The tribals say all this happened only with the provocation of non-tribals. They allege that the non-tribals damaged their crops, but the non-tribals say that the tribals attacked their men when they to the village to get a consensus on the land dispute.

When visited the village to find out the causes of the attack the tribals told that they resorted to the counter attack only when the police and ryot leaders concluded and attack them. M Rama Rao an eye witness to the incident in the village and started damaging the crops. He alleged that they snatched the ploughshares and threw them in the wells.

The villagers say when they are dispersing with the advice of the police the non-tribals attacked them all of the sudden. A tribal leader Madakam Venkateswara Rao said if the tribals really used bows and arrow there might have been a large number of casualties.

On the other hand the non-tribals allege that the tribals confined their leaders for five hours when they went to the village. They stated they received injuries as they were unarmed at that time. They alleged that the tribals of Buttaigudem and jeelugumilli mandals reached Busarajupalli in advance and attacked the non-tribals in a planned manner.

Uneasy calm in West Godavari

Thursday, August 8, 1996.

Newsflash

Eluru, Aug. 7: An eerie of silence prevails after three days of hectic activity of attack, counter-attack and rasta roko, setting ablaze of mandal revenue offices at Jangareddigudem and Jeelugumilli in the agency area of West Godavari .

The womenfolk in the non-tribal villages and hamlets are still in the grip of fear of attack any time by the tribals while the male members are away from home. The tribal hamlets wear a grim look and many of the villagers are seen holding discussions among themselves.

They claim that the non-tribals attacked when they were at rest and they retaliated in defence. At this juncture, it is impossible to ascertain who is at fault.

Though the revenue records say that out of 145 villages of Polavaram (23), Koyyalagudem (18), Jangareddigudem (22), Buttaigudem (53) and Jeelugumilli (29) mandals, 102 villages are classified as scheduled lands (agency), the census statistics of 1991 claims that out of the total population of 2,52,689 in these 145 villages, the Scheduled Tribe population is 39,428 only.

A perusal of earlier statistics during 1960, claim that the Scheduled Tribes were over- numbered and 55.1 per cent of then population. The raise of non-tribal population is due to heavy migration during 1969-70 and 1980.

After the introduction of Rytwari Act 2 of 1969 and abolition of 29 estates and convertion into rytwari, a large extent of land in this area was sold at throw-away price. This led to migration of people to this area. To curtail the migration of outsiders and provide security for the tribals, the Land Transfer Regulation (LTR) Act one of 1970 was effected. Earlier in 1899, rytwari settlement and in 1948 Estates Abolition Act had little impact. After the introduction of LTR Act in 1970, also for a decade there was heavy rush of migration from the plains. This led to the misconception among tribals that their legitimate right of enjoying the fruit of the soil in their area was taken away by the non-tribals and created hatred as there was no change in their living conditions. Add to their miseries, some outside elements entered to the area and kindled hopes among the tribals not to rest until they secure their legitimate right over the lands.

As a maiden effort in June 1995, a large number of tribals, including women and children from Tadiramannagudem, Jillellagudem and other villages obstructed the cultivation of 600 acres of land under Bangaramma tank in Tatiramannagudem. In that attack, about a score of non-tribals were injured and many of them run for their lives. That created enthusiasm among tribals and they made efforts to secure control over some more land in other villages. Again on October 15, there was another clash between tribals and non-tribals at Tatiramannagudem of Jelugumilli mandal over the control over land. The Sub-inspector of Police was also kidnapped at that time.

After a break of none months, the latest dispute over land ownership occurred at Busarajupalli village and 25 non-tribals were hurt in the clashes. This time some of the local politicians were also injured.

The police have promulgated 144 Section in all sensitive villages and police pickets, patrolling teams are seen in the agency area to avoid further clashes.

Mr. G. Alfred, Director General of Police, who visited the area, personally left instructions to the subordinates regarding keeping law and order under control.

However, the revenue staff working in the tribal mandals became the target of both the sections as their bonafides were suspected. The sections as their bonafides were suspected. The setting ablaze of the records at MRO offices at Jangareddigudem and Jeelugumilli may create some more confusion in settling the land disputes. The declaration of the Minister for Panchayat Raj, regarding establishment of settlement court may give some relief to both the sections.