Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (RD)

Beltangady, Mar 8: “The Anti Naxal Force (ANF) has been imprisoning a few innocents accusing them of supporting the Naxal movement. The state administration and police are responsible for driving the people to join the armed movement,” alleged tribals co-ordinating committee state convener Bharat P R.

Addressing protesters led by taluk tribal co-ordinating committee, DYFI taluk committee and Dalit rights struggle committee at the taluk office premises here on Wednesday March 7, Bharat alleged that the atrocities on forest dwellers has been on the rise since the BJP took over the state administration.

“The police and government are registering bogus cases against forest dwellers with the hidden motive of evicting them. The state administration has failed to provide basic amenities to forest dwellers. The legal actions are not being taken against ministers who had viewed porn videos in Vidhana Sabha while the police imprisoned a student for taking an active role in DYFI,” condemned Bharat.

Bharat urged the state administration to take legal actions against ANF for imprisoning an innocent student Vittal and his father Linganna. He cautioned that statewide protests will be held till Linganna’s family gets justice.

DYFI district president Muneer Katipalla said that BJP state leaders who are seeking divine grace to retain power did not get time to console Vittal’s family. Vittal, a journalism student of Mangalore University, was arrested by ANF police alleging the former was an informer of the Naxals. “Vittal was punctual in classes and has good relations with classmates,” added Katipalla.

He cautioned that the DYFI will stage a massive protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner if the police does not set free both Vittal and Linganna in a week.

DYFI leaders B M Bhat, Shiva Kumar, Shekar Laila, Damodar Bhat, Narayan, and Ramachandra Shishila were present on the occasion.