Tribals' unrest at Lalgarh proliferates in district

Lalgarh, Nov 24 (UNI) The tribals' unrest, which cropped up here a few weeks ago, today proliferated in the entire West Midnapur district and reached within the 20 km-radius of Midnapur town.

President of 'Pulishi Santrash Birodhi o Sangharsha Committee', a tribal body against ''police atrocities'', Chhatradhar Mahato had threatened to continue the stir till the fulfilment of their eleven-point charter of demands.

Meanwhile, a meeting, held between the administration and protestors here yesterday, was attended by Additional District Magistrate(ADM) Erao Abraham Isreal.

However, it failed to yield any result as the former did not accede to the latter's charter of demands.

Mr Mahato said, '' We welcome Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to hold conciliatory talks provided an assurance that he will not be accompanied by police. We will take charge of his security. '' Yuva Congress president Rahul Gandhi had directed party leader Anil Shikaria, also the president of the party's district unit, to submit a report based on the alleged police atrocities and tribal deprivation.

After making a survey at Katapahari and Barberia, Mr Shikaria alleged that not a single project was undertaken under the Prime Minister's Sadak Yojna (Road Scheme) as well as 'power schemes' in the tribal belts.

'' Even the 100-day employment to an individual assured by National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme(NREGS) is ineffectual.

The tribals hardly get the opportunity to work more than three to four days under the scheme. Not a single dwelling unit has been built for the tribals under the Indira Gandhi Awas Yojna (Housing Scheme). The administration has virtually failed to meet its commitments, '' Mr Shikaria rued.

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