R’gda Tribal outfit squarely blames Ex-MP N Bhaskar Rao for Bhagirathi’s murder and demands CBI inquiry
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, November 6: A huge rally of around ten thousand adivasis from all the blocks and urban areas of Rayagada district led by the family members of Late Bhagirathi Mandangi, Appalaswamy Kadraka-President, Basanta Ullaka-Convenor & Jagannath Mandingi-General Secretary and members of Adivasi Mahasanga, Rayagada, Odisha congregated in front of Collectorate, Rayagada. They demanded to arrest N Bhaskar Rao, Ex-Member of Rajya Sabha & his associates, who were directly involved in the murder of their member Bhagirathi. As CB-CID investigation has failed to nab the culprits, the body has demanded the Governor of Odisha to transfer the case to CBI.
The memorandum said that Bhagirathi, one of their crusaders against corruption & messiah for the poor, was the member of the Managing Committee of Maa ajhighariani Temple Trust. Rayagada. He noticed illegalities and misappropriation of huge fund of the temple trust for which he objected in tooth and nail against the trustee, who happened to be the brother of Rao. The managing committee scheduled a meeting on 15.12.2010, which was informed to Mandangi through telephonic message who left his house on his motor cycle to attend the meeting; but to surprise of all, his motor cycle was found in the temple premises without his presence. His charred body was recovered in a floating state after three days from a dam in the nearby state Andhra Pradesh.
F.I.R was lodged pertaining to the murder of Mandangi. Rao, presently Vice-President of (BJD) Party, finding no alternative to crush the voice of Mandangi, hatched out a plan & eliminated him for which the police took no action against the perpetrators of crime till today after passage of 13 years.
The tribal outfit has demanded to institute a CBI inquiry and arrest the culprits within next one month & render justice to the poor tribals or otherwise they would take to the streets again by making a blockade of the whole district.
In a separate memorandum to Rayagada Collector, the District Tribal Apex Body has demanded distribution of revenue land to cent percent landless tribal families as the process is hardly achieved in spite of related govt scheme.
The Body has demanded at least 50% job reservation in Govt and private entities as Rayagada comes under Schedule-V area having more than 56% scheduled tribe population. The memorandum stressed on housing loans to tribals residing in urban areas of the district. The memorandum includes instituting mandis in all gram panchayats to facilitate procurement of various agricultural products with MSP from tribal farmers on a priority basis. It has also emphasized to stop ostracization of tribal students residing in school & college hostels.
Basanta, on behalf of Appalaswami, Jagnnath & others, has tendered his gratitude to the Vaisya Samaj, Business Association, Goldsmith Association, Truck & Bus Associations, mediapersons & other unions for the grand success of the rally. “This process of coming together has raised aspirations and expectations among adibasis and we are confident that truth will win, even if it is late.
If the majority tribal inhabitants of this district are in distress, other people will certainly be insecure. It will hinder the development process in the district. We shall continue this tirade against the injustice till the culprits are taken to task by rule of law”, expressed Ullaka.
