Vedi alleges attack on Dalits over land acquisition

Pathanamthitta, Aug 6 (UNI) Sadhu Jana Vimochana Samyuktha Vedi President Laha Gopalan today alleged that more than 3,000 families of Dalits and tribals, who took possession of Harrison Estate, have been attacked by the 'goondas of certain political parties.' Ten people were admitted to various hospitals with serious injuries, he said in a statement here and alleged that the police were 'mute spectators.' He said thousands of acres of land, the lease of which had expired long ago, were still under the possession of companies like Harrison. In contrast to that, landless Adivasis and Dalits were denied land. The promise made by the government to provide one hectare of land to each Dalit family had not been fulfilled so far.

Stating that the Dalits did not benefit from the much-trumpeted land reforms, he charged the Left parties with suppressing the ''land struggles'' launched by the Dalits and the tribals.

The Vedi warned the government that the ''life and death struggle'' of the have-nots would go ahead.

He sought the intervention of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to resolve the stand off.

UNI