The Hindu : New Delhi News : Tribal protest, a people’s struggle: Medha

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Tribal protest, a people’s struggle: Medha

Special Correspndent

KOLKATA:Social activist, Medha Patkar on Wednesday described the agitation against alleged police excesses by a section of the tribal population of West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district as “a people’s struggle” even as protestors later clashed with the police when prevented from digging up roads in new areas in the Jhargram sub-division .

Some policemen were surrounded by the protestors demanding the release of four persons arrested in connection with the incident. Parts of the district remained cut off as a result of the agitation that is continuing for more than three weeks.

Dialogue

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone during her visit to Lalgarh – one of the areas worst affected by the agitation – Ms. Patkar said that she did not “think that the Maoists are in the lead in this situation though there may be some in the agitation.” Extending her support to those involved in the “struggle,” she called for immediate dialogue by the State authorities with the protestors to resolve the impasse.

“Dialogue should be held immediately and the same mistake in Nandigram should not be repeated”, Ms. Patkar said.

The State Government has been insisting on talks with the protestors though the local administration is averse to accepting the demand of those behind the agitation that discussions should be held at Dalilpur where the first protests against police activity had been made.

Proper investigations

Referring to the alleged police excesses against local villagers during raids to track down those responsible for the IED blast that narrowly missed Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy on November 2 Ms. Patkar wondered why “the police had to enter homes of the villagers in unearthly hours of the morning.” “Proper investigation should be conducted,” she added.

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