Adilabad: Hundreds of Adivasis who came from across the district on Monday staged a massive dharna in front of the collectorate and rasta roko for more than three hours at Komaram Bheem Chowk in Adilabad town demanding that the state government implement ‘Adivasi Bandhu’ schemes for the benefit of tribals. Tension prevailed in Adilabad town for some time with the rasta roko but the event went off peacefully.
The police led by DSP Venkateshwarlu supervised the security and took all measures to avoid untoward incidents on the occasion. Adivasis also demanded that the state government give 3-acre land to the landless, to issue pattas to podu lands and to remove Lambadas from STs list. Traffic came to halt and vehicles were standard for long distances on both the sides of the town due to the rasta roko.
First, the Adivasis proceeded towards the collectorate and waited for collector Sikta Patnaik in order to submit their memorandum but she did not turn up. After waiting for some time, Adivasis again proceeded to Komaram Bheem Chowk where they staged the rasta roko for more than three hours.
They raised slogans demanding that the collector come to receive their memorandum but in vain. Despite rains, they continued their rasta roko.
Speaking on the occasion, Thudumdebba district president Godam Ganesh regretted that the collector insulted the Adivasis by not turning up to receive a memorandum from them.
He alleged that some Lambada top police officials of Adilabad and Karimnagar including Adilabad SP were curtailing the information of their agitation and demands from reaching to the state government.
At last, additional collector N. Natraj came to the protesting Adivasis and received the memorandum from them.
