MANGALORE : An allegation is being heard that the police personnel as well as the Anti-Naxal Force cops were using force to evict the tribal families which have been residing in the forest area, in their bid to implement the Kudremukh National Park Project. It has also been complained that the innocent tribals were taken to isolated places and then tortured.
Reports say, recently the cops and ANF personnel had arrested one Poovappa Malekudia of Kutlur Anjarottu in Naravi village and then tortured him in an isolated area.
“ The cops blindfolded me and took me to an isolated area and thrashed me and pricked me with an electric cable,†alleges Poovappa. He says the police were resorting to such step to force the people who have refused to let their land for the Kudemukh National Park Project, to let their land.
He has also said he would complain to the Human Rights Commission in this regard. One Shivakumar who spoke on behalf of Poovappa said several others too have been subject to atrocities in a similar fashion.
Poovappa in list of Naxal supporters
But, police records say Poovappa was one among the 11 Naxal supporters of Kutlur village, as mentioned in a list prepared by the police. Here it may be worth mentioning that Vasanth Malekudiya and Dinaker who were in the police list of Naxal supporters were earlier killed in an encounter with ANF here. If Dinaker, a resident of Kutlur was killed two years ago, Vasanth was killed on March 1 this year. Now police are on the look out for Vasanth’s sister Sundari on suspicion that Sundari had joined the Naxal group after the death of her brother.
IGP Clarifies
Meanwhile, clarifying on the issue IGP Gopal Hosur said Poovappa was arrested only on suspicion that he was a Naxal supporter. “He has been released after interrogation. But it is not true that police were forcibly evicting and were even torturing the Malekudiyas to facilitate the implementation of the Kudremukh National Park Project,†Hosur said.
Of the 42 families in Kutlur, 36 families have refused to let land for the project. However, six families have agreed to let their land for the project. There is also sufficient agricultural land in the area. Chandu Gowda of Alambe says “We will not let our two acre land even if we are given Rs 20 lakhs.†Lingappa a resident of Anjarottu also voices the same opinion when he says “ I will not let my land even if someone forces me to any extent.â€
Yet another Malekudiya Udaya says he would not fear police atrocities and would not let land for the project, until his last breath.
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