Tribal organisations and civil society movements in Attappady have started a massive signature collection campaign in the region seeking direct intervention of Forest Minister K. Raju to release the four Irula tribal youths of Bodichala hamlet in Attappady, who were arrested last week on the charge of hunting a deer.
The Hindu had reported on the custodial torture and subsequent arrest of the tribal youths, who had actually cooked and ate the flesh of a deer killed originally by stray dogs roaming in the region.
According to Forest Department sources, the Minister will order a high level inquiry into the incident on Tuesday. An all-party delegation from Attappady will meet the Minister in Mannarkkad on Friday and demand action on corrupt and insensitive forest officials in Attapapdy region who allegedly maintaining vengeance against the impoverished tribal community of Attappady. Representations have also been sent to SC/ST Development Minister A.K. Balan to ensure bail for the youth, who have been in judicial custody at Palakkad jail for the past eight days. “It is quite common among forest officials in Attappady to implicate tribal youth in false cases. We are awaiting responses from State and national human rights commissions on our petitions,’’ said K.A. Ramu of tribal organisation Thambu. CPI(ML) Red Flag leader K. Sivadasan, who is ensuring legal aid to the arrested tribals, said they were subjected to custodial torture for about 48 hours before registering their arrests. “Now, they are in jail under non-bailable charges,’’ he said.
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Tribal elder Kakki has sent petitions to human rights commission and various governmental agencies explaining the custodial torture on him to pressurize his son, an accused in the case, to surrender.
It is quite common among forest officials in Attappady to implicate tribal youths in false cases
K.A. Ramu
Thambu