People's Democracy

JHARKHAND

CPI(M) Condemns Lathicharge

THE Jharkhand state secretariat of the CPI(M) has strongly condemned the brutal lathicharge by the police at Nagri village, injuring several tribal women and villagers. The villagers were protesting against the forcible construction of a wall on a disputed land.

The CPI(M)’s statement, issued from Ranchi on July 4, 2012, has demanded a high level inquiry against the police action and punishment to those responsible fir it.

In the context of the court order regarding land acquisition at Nagri, the CPI(M) has demanded that the Arjun Munda government of Jharkhand must intervene immediately and submit a petition before the High Court for grant of a stay on the operationalisation of its earlier order to begin construction on the land. The party has also demanded that till that time status quo ante must be maintained on the land in question. (See our July 8 issue for details.)

The CPI(M) is of the opinion that the callous attitude of the Arjun Munda government, just like that of the erstwhile state governments, in resolving this long pending land dispute has been aggravating the situation.

It was after 54 long years that the state government suddenly woke up and started claiming the 227.7 acres of land in the name of construction of IIM and a law university.

The party has also demanded immediate unconditional release of the innocent villagers including tribal women and withdrawal of cases.