|
Private armies a threat to Dalits in Andhra Pradesh |
|
|
|
|
Written by Correspondent
|
|
Saturday, 17 September 2005 |
The private armies owned by Upper Castes run almost a parallel government in Bihar, one of the most backward (and lawless) states in India. The Government of Bihar, now under the President’s rule, has proved time and again to be powerless in dealing with the highhandedness exercised by these forces with the help of private armies.
Unfortunately Andhra Pradesh has gone the Bihar way. The emergence of caste-based private armies like Nallamalla Cobra (Nallatrachu) will have serious repercussions, as private armies in the North are used primarily to oppress the weaker sections. The police and the administration do not help the victims of private armies as they lack clout.
If such caste-based private armies are allowed to survive, a majority of attacks would be directed against Dalits and the landless poor. Most of the private armies are operated by rich, upper-caste people. For them, the weaker sections are the target. In addition to organised massacres, private armies use dehumanising programmes to insult the weaker sections. The Tsundur massacre of 1991 is a case in point.
Private armies take the guise of anti-Maoist groups and spring up after a major attack by extremists. Green Tigers, Nalladandu, Red Tigers, Tirumala Tigers and Narsa Cobras are some of the gangs. Narsa Cobras was formed after the Maoists shot Maktal Congress legislator Narsi Reddy in Mahbubnagar district on 15 August 2005. Narsa Cobras has already killed Kanakachari, who belonged to a backward caste, for being an alleged Maoist sympathiser. Another victim to fall was Alladi Ravi (26) of Chimakurthy Dalitwada. He was hacked to death on 17 September 2005.
The Nallamala Nallatrachu has threatened to kill residents in a Dalit colony in Prakasam district. The police have launched a search for Nallatrachu activists in the area. The scare began after unidentified persons wearing masks went around houses at night, questioning residents.
Among the oldest is Green Tigers, formed in the then Naxal base of north Telangana in 1994. The Maoists have since set up base in the Nallamala forests bordering four districts in central Andhra. Police sources say among these, the Nallatrachus are known for targeting Dalits. The group takes its name from the deadly cobras of the Nallamala forests. It has already claimed responsibility for killing M Prasad of Kula Nirmulana Porata Samiti (Society for eradicating caste) on 10 September 2005. Prasad, who belonged to the scheduled castes, was killed the day when KNPS State president Duddu Prabkahar was released on bail.
The gangs earlier killed human rights activists Azam Ali and Purushottam. We suspect that these gangs have cyanide weapons that can kill easily,” a senior police official says.
The State government should address these issues in right earnest. If timely measures are not initiated, the situation could soon worsen.
|
News