Reign Of Terror In Kasipur
By Statesman News Service
09 March, 2005
The StatesmanThe alleged "reign of terror" by the police administration in Kasipur area of Raygada district in the Indian state of Orissa where the Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL) plans to establish an alumina plant is unthinkable, read a People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) report.
Kasipur is "virtually under siege" with people of almost all the villages in the area being subjected to prolonged "police repression and atrocities". Threats of rape are issued and inebriated men have even chased the MLA's daughter. Illegal detention and false cases are the order of the day stated the PUCL fact-finding team in its report disclosed at a press conference here.
The tribals and other local people of Kasipur block have been agitating against the proposed establishment of the alumina project fearing massive displacement and loss of their livelihood. The fact-finding mission was aimed at ascertaining whether the civil rights of the affected people of Kasipur were being abused in view of the persisting tension due to the ongoing agitation.
The peace, life and livelihood of the poor tribal people of Kasipur area have been "seriously affected" due to the flag march and patrolling by armed police battalions inside the villages. "Police moving from village to village are openly threatening people against attending meetings and intimidating them to give undertaking that they would never participate in the anti-industry agitation," the report said.
"The team strongly feels that the reign of terror and repression on the people should immediately be stopped. Attempts should be made to restore the fundamental rights of the people to speech and expression, as well as to decide their own fate, and government should honour such opinion by its positive action", the report observed. "The doors for direct dialogue with the people on the problem in a free and fearless atmosphere should remain open and the government should democratically
take the people's opinion regarding the acquisition of their land. As a measure for creating a congenial atmosphere and to repose confidence, several cases filed against the anti-industry agitators be
immediately withdrawn," the members of the PUCL team suggested.The report further urged the government to re-examine and reconsider the whole process of land acquisition in the proposed plant area. The whole process of land acquisition in a scheduled tribal area like Kasipur primarily violates the provisions of the Orissa Scheduled Land Area Transfer of Immovable Property (Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956 and as amended in 2002.
The five-member fact-finding team, which toured the Kasipur area recently, comprised advocate Mr Prasanta Kumar Jena (secretary of PUCL unit, Cuttack), advocate Mr Sanjeeb Chakravarty, and advocate Mr Niranjan Panigrahi (both members of PUCL Cuttack unit), advocate Mr Niranjan Panda (member PUCL unit, Bhubaneswar) and Mr Rabindranath Pattnaik (convener-member of PUCL Rayagada unit).
