Ban orders in 2 agency mandals

ELURU, Feb 28: Prohibit­ory orders under Section 144 of CRPC. has been promulgated in the trouble-prone Jelugumilli and Buttayigudem agency mandals in West Godavari district since last night, reports UNI.

As a precautionary meas­ure four platoons of armed reserve force and Andhra Pra­desh Special Police were deployed in Kommugudem village of Buttayigudem mandal besides the persent force of seven platoons, superintendent of police M Punnarao told newsmen here today.

Tribals and non-tribals are engaged in land disputes in the two agency mandals.

Tribals have entered into the lands of non-tribals in Kommugudem and Bandarugem villages of Buttayigu­dem mandal and destroyed the standing crop of virgina tobacco, in violation of an earlier agreement with the district administration, which barred them from transgressing into the non-tribal lands.

On information, police visited the village yesterday and held discussions with tri­bal leaders.

Though a fresh survey of agency area lands was on, the tribal are demanding that the assessed waste dry land and surplus land be distributed to them under the Land Ceiling Act.

The police also took out a "flag march" in the villages of Buttayigudem mandal yesterday.

The tribals armed with ar­rows and bows, are entering into the lands of non-tribals and destroying the crop frequ­ently for the past ten days, the non-tribals alleged.

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE 24, 4, 1997

ELURU , APRIL 22:

Following a pact reached today, the tribals of Reddyganapavaram in Buttayagudem manddal have agreed not to obstruct thrashing of paddy stacks in the lands belonging to non-tribals.

In charge Collector M. Subrahmanyam held separate discussions with the tribals and non-tribals in the tribals hamlet.

During the discussions, the tribals expressed doubts about the tenancy rights on lands once owned or acquired by a farmer Chintalapati Bapiraju.

The tribals' counsel and High Court advocate Bharati Lakshmi examined the records pertaining to the lands and found that about 37 acres did not accompany valid documents.

The collector has clarified that notices were already served to the farmers who currently possess the land directing them to prove the validity of their ownership.

He ordered for verificarion of records pertaining to another 40acres of land following an appeal.

Addressing the tribals, the Collector appealed to them to approach the MRO if they had any doubts in regard the remaining land holdings possessed by non-tribals.

He warned of stringent action if they hamper agricultural operations.

The Collector also spoke to the non-tribals who had agreed for resurvey of the disputed land. He assured them that they could carry on with the thrashing operation in the remaining lands.

Tribal land Struggle Committee convener M Venkateswara Rao, CPM leaders M Sitaram and M Eswariah, non-tribal farmers G Lakshmana Rao and Gbrahmanandam took part in the discussions.

From Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD. March 3. The imposition of prohibitory orders in three mandals of West Godavari district recently in the wake of land disputes between tribals and non-tribals was criticised by Mr. B.Venkateswara Rao (CPI-M) in the Assembly on Monday.

Making a mention during zero hour, the CPI (M) leader said tribals were not responsible for cutting the crop of non-tribals in Jeeilugumilli mandal as was alleged. It was the handiwork of two groups posing themselves as "Sakti" and "Pandha". Following the incident, the author­ities clamped Section 144 in three mandals, in­stead of the affected mandal, leading to avoidable tension.

Mr. Venkateswara Rao said the local DSP and two Mandal Revenue Officers were supporting the landlords but had since been reined in by the Collector. He regretted that the Chief Minister's promise of a discussion on the matter with Op­position leaders had not yet materialized.

Describing the dispute in the tribal belt of West Godavari district as a sensitive matter the Revenue Minister, Mr. T. Devender Goud said he would discuss it with the Collector immediately. He would also try to arrange for a meeting of flood leaders with the Chief Minister, he added.