Narayanpatna(Orissa):
Narayanpatna, a tribal dominated area in Orissa's Koratpur district, is once again on the boil.
It was just in 2009, that Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, an organisation believed to be a frontal body of Maoists, was involved in a land-grab movement that shocked the rest of the state.
In July 2009, the organisation had forcibly taken over 2000 acres of land, owned by non-tribals, forcing 400 Dalit families to flee.
Now, after a year's lull, Nachika Linga, the leader of the Sangh and its members have resurfaced in the tribal landscape of Narayanpatna.
''Our agitation is to liberate our lost land and ensure our people do not starve,'' said Nachika Linga.
The Sangh justifies the land grab claiming tribals are the actual owners of the tracts others had been cultivating for decades. Though the police killed two Sangh activists last year and arrested all top leaders except Nachika declaring the agitation crushed, the fear of the Sangh still prevails and has kept the ousted land owners in exile.
And now Linga has regrouped, and if sources are to be believed, not just backed by Maoist ideology but Maoists who want to hijack the land agitation.
''The police chase us all the time. And when we go into hiding, they label us as Maoists. It's the police who are creating Maoists,'' Nachika Linga.
Orissa has for long been the battleground of the tribal versus non-tribal agenda. And the advantage has always gone to the Maoists. However, this fact has seldom been given prudence.
Many believe the police brutality has made the Sangh more pro-Naxal and Nachika Linga's return in an era of recharged Maoist offensive is a growing concern, not only in Orissa but also for the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
It was just in 2009, that Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, an organisation believed to be a frontal body of Maoists, was involved in a land-grab movement that shocked the rest of the state.
In July 2009, the organisation had forcibly taken over 2000 acres of land, owned by non-tribals, forcing 400 Dalit families to flee.
Now, after a year's lull, Nachika Linga, the leader of the Sangh and its members have resurfaced in the tribal landscape of Narayanpatna.
''Our agitation is to liberate our lost land and ensure our people do not starve,'' said Nachika Linga.
The Sangh justifies the land grab claiming tribals are the actual owners of the tracts others had been cultivating for decades. Though the police killed two Sangh activists last year and arrested all top leaders except Nachika declaring the agitation crushed, the fear of the Sangh still prevails and has kept the ousted land owners in exile.
And now Linga has regrouped, and if sources are to be believed, not just backed by Maoist ideology but Maoists who want to hijack the land agitation.
''The police chase us all the time. And when we go into hiding, they label us as Maoists. It's the police who are creating Maoists,'' Nachika Linga.
Orissa has for long been the battleground of the tribal versus non-tribal agenda. And the advantage has always gone to the Maoists. However, this fact has seldom been given prudence.
Many believe the police brutality has made the Sangh more pro-Naxal and Nachika Linga's return in an era of recharged Maoist offensive is a growing concern, not only in Orissa but also for the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
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