Red sanders smugglers lure TN tribals for spl skill: HC panel

Chennai, Apr 21: Amid the outcry over the killing of 20 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu by Andhra Pradesh Police, an Advocates Commission appointed by the Madras High Court has said a tribal community of Kalrayan Hills is lured by red sanders smugglers with huge money as they possess unique skills in cutting trees effortlessly and without noise.

Highlighting the need for upliftment of the community identified as 'Malayalis', the Commission in its 35-page report to the court has recommended a Master Plan for development of the hills covering Salem and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu.

After perusing the report, a bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, directed the Government Pleader to file the counter within four weeks and to show development works if any carried out in the hills. “It is interesting to peruse the epilogue (of the report), which classifies the tribals of their special skills as soundless woodcutters, especially in cutting the red sanders. It appears that out of twenty people, who were recently shot down, twelve belong to the area.

"A suggestion was made to utilise the special skills in a development process rather than their lending hands to the red sander smugglers. There is, thus undoubtedly, the requirement of the development of social capital for them and suggestions are contained at the end of the epilogue," the Bench said.

Twenty woodcutters from the state were killed in firing by Andhra Pradesh police in Seshachalam forests in Chitoor district earlier this month, prompting widespread condemnation by political parties and rights groups in the state.

The three-member Advocate Commission was set up by the court on a PIL seeking a direction to the state and central governments to frame and implement a special scheme providing for the education, health, road transport and employment of residents of Kalrayan, Periya Kalrayan and Chinna Kalrayan hill areas.

According to petitioner K R Tamizhmani, President of Madras Bar Association, the hills are inhabited by a tribal community by name Malayalis.

The lands are fertile but there was no active cultivation of any crop except in a few pockets. And 90 per cent of the population was in 'pinching poverty'.

The court had earlier directed the Advocate Commission to visit the area and submit a report. The committee expressed satisfaction about facilities such as drinking water and electricity but underscored the requirement of public health care centres and infrastructure in schools and hostels and recommended a master plan for development in the area.

PTI