Tribals’ dissent due to inaction in Bhagirathi & Laxmi murder case
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, December 30: Almost ten days after the death of Laxmi Majhi, a differently abled tribal lass from Kashipur, whose partially burnt body was found in the campus of Govt medical at Chandrapur, a mammoth team from the Crime Branch has taken up the case for further investigation as local police failed to get clues of the said death. Laxmi’s father Beldhar Majhi complained in the FIR against Director Narasingh Mohapatra’s abusive behaviour towards his daughter working in Maa Gruha managed by an NGO named ALISHA. Beldhar mentioned in the FIR the death as a cold-blooded murder.
State BJP unit had a six-hour blockade at Rayagada registering their protest regarding administrative inaction. Tribal outfits took a massive rally at Kashipur and demanded to nab the culprits and to compensate Laxmi’s family members with Rs. One crore. Congress, BJP, BSP leaders participated in the rally and extended their solidarity with the tribal people who led the rally and presented the memorandum to CM through the local police Inspector.
Meanwhile, last Saturday, Zilla Adibasi Mahasangha, an apex-level tribal organisation of Rayagada district has organised a press meet and declared to organise a “Bandh” – total cease of the district on coming 5th January if no action was taken to nab the culprits within 3rd January, 2023. Interestingly enough, the outfit has also demanded to arrest N.Bhaskar Rao, a prominent BJD leader from Rayagada and Ex-Rajya Sabha Member, who was involved in the murder of Bhagirathi Mandingi on 15-12-2010.
They have appealed to the general public, merchant association, govt & pvt organisations, educational institutions to cooperate in rendering justice to the families of Laxmi Majhi and Bhagirathi Manding.
A few days back the tribal leaders belonging to several tribal organizations protested the way Chaiti was being conducted by not involving their tribal associations. According to them though the name Chaiti emanates from the most important festival of tribals of Rayagada, the name is being misused by the administration for their own benefit. Crores of money is spent in the name of tribals. They even threatened to boycott Chaiti by adibasis en masse and warned the govt not to use their tribal festival name and pictures. After this great dissent, the Collector apologized the tribal members and requested them to cooperate. There was equally disgruntlement among the public of Rayagada including the tribals regarding the embezzlement of Chaiti funds amounting to Rs.92 lakhs.
“The dissent of people, particularly tribals, is aggressively increasing in the area regarding administrative abuse, corruption & misgovernance. This needs to be addressed with immediate effect lest it may lead to a law & order situation”, said James Sabar, Co-convenor of Odisha Adibasi Manch, Rayagada. Appalaswamy Kadraka, President, Basanta Ullaka, Vice-President-cum-Convenor, Jagannatha Mandingi, General Secretary of the Sangha along with Rayagada Municipality Council Member Smt Manjula Miniaka briefed the press.
