HM promises review of cases against tribals

Hyderabad, Mar 23 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy today assured agitated CPI(M) members that all cases filed against tribals in West Godavari district would be reviewed.

Replying to clarifications sought by CPI(M) Floor leader N Narasimhaiah, he said a joint meeting of the officials of the revenue and tribal departments would be held in a fortnight to effectively implement the 1/70 Act, which provided legal protection to lands of tribals and review of cases registered against tribals.

When the members pressed for the release of arrested CPI(M) leaders, Mr Reddy promised to look into it.

Earlier, making a statement in the Assembly, the Minister said when some shops and CPI(M) office were demolished as part of road widening, police had to intervene to rescue the Revenue Divisional Officer. A case was registered under various sections of the IPC against CPI(M) district secretary M Sitaram on December 19 along with 46 others and they were remanded in judicial custody. The next day, 200 tribals armed with bows and arrows injured officials at the MDO office at Buttagudem and mild force was used to disperse them.

The Minister denied that false cases were being foisted against innocent tribals in respect of encroachment of land in the scheduled areas in the state.

The state government was taking sincere steps to protect the interests of the tribals by effectively monitoring the implementation of provisions of Land Transfer Regulation Act.

An area of 1.21 lakh acre, including 17,370 in East Godavari and 9,989 acres in West Godavari, was restored to the tribals so far and action initiated to prohibit registeration of documents in favour of non-tribals in scheduled areas.

A case was booked by the CB-CID against two Mandal Revenue Officers, one revenue inspector, one superintendent, one senior assistant and one junior assistant, seven village administrative officers and 50 non-tribals for occupying tribal lands by producing fake judgement copies, he added.

UNI SM ROY VD BD1823