Tribals stall march against Operation Greenhunt

A padyatra scheduled to be held against Operation Greenhunt on Monday could not be taken out as local tribals came out on the streets at many places in Bastar to stop rights activists from proceeding to Dantewada....

A padyatra scheduled to be held against Operation Greenhunt on Monday could not be taken out as local tribals came out on the streets at many places in Bastar to stop rights activists from proceeding to Dantewada.

Tribals,under the banner of the Adivasi Swabhiman Manch,thronged NH-221 and NH-16 at Konta,Bastanar and Errabore in south Bastar. They also stopped vehicles near Kanker,Kondagaon to prevent rights groups and NGO activists from reaching Nendra village from where the padyatra was to begin around noon.

Dantewada Zila Panchayat president Chabi Karma was among 25 people arrested for violation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.

The yatra,being led by Vanvasi Chetna Ashrams Himanshu Kumar,was scheduled to pass through 17 villages before reaching Dantewada on December 26. The VCA,an organisation working in the Naxalite-affected areas of south Bastar,had announced a padyatra,satyagrah and a public hearing from December 14 to January 6 in south Bastar,alleging that the tribals of the region were victims of a war called Operation Greenhunt being waged by the security forces.

Dantewada district SP Ambresh Mishra said the police were keeping a close watch on the situation as a large number of tribals were opposing the events being organised by activist groups. Certainly,there is tension. We have given armed protection to Himanshu Kumar and his supporters,who are attending the programme, he added.