Tribals of Srikakulam, belonging to the villages of Seemtampeta and Kotturu had, on Monday, embarked on a 65km padayatra from Kannedhara Hill to Srikakulam, demanding that the mining lease granted to Virgin Rock Private Ltd. be cancelled immediately.
Sarpanch Thotasavara Mukhalingam leads the 100-member-strong rally after conducting a special pooja to the local diety Mukkidi Polamma. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Yerram Naidu and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) District Secretary C H Tejeswara Rao are also reported to have participated in the padayatra.
The Sarpanch lamented that the lives and the livelihoods of tribals residing on the hills would be shattered if the commercial company is allowed to mine the Kannedhara Hills. He also warned the government that the girijans would take to bows and arrows if the padayatra failed to convince the government to cancel the lease.
Yerram Naidu advised Congress minister D Prasad Rao to refrain from abusing his power in the Kannedhara mining issue. He cited the examples of Kanimozhi and Suresh Kalmadi being jailed for misusing power.
The padayatra, which was taken out by 100 tribals including 14 women, was planned such that it culminates in Srikakulam on Wednesday - the day that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy arrives in the town for his 2-day tour.
700 police men were reportedly deployed with the tribals' agitation in view, and upto 150 girijans were arrested on Wednesday when they clashed with the police while demanding that the CM respond to their requests.
Their demands went unaddressed.
filed in:Srikakulam, Tribal Welfare, Girijans, Mining, N Kiran Kumar Reddy