RAYAGADA: THE Dongria Kondhs of the Niyamgiri hills in the district are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
The conflict between the police and the Maoists has virtually given the tribals sleepless nights on their own land. The inhabitants, who are already struggling to get basic facilities such as safe drinking water, power and road connectivity, are now living in fear of either being targeted by the Maoists or the cops.
On the one hand, while the police are constantly executing anti-Maoist operations by camping around the Niyamgiri hills, the Maoists are either eliminating or threatening the tribals by branding them as police informers.
Even as the district administration is firm on initiating developmental works in the area, a section of tribals have to face the offensive from the police who label them as Maoist supporters.
In an encounter in February, a youth, Manda Kadraka of Dangamati village under Kalyansingpur police limits, was killed in an encounter. Three others fell victim to the anger of the Maoists. Though police claim that Kadraka was in the Maoist camp during the gun-battle, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti said the encounter was fake.
Life for Dongria Kondhs of Niyamgiri was peaceful until industrialisation touched them. Disturbance slowly crept in to break the silence of the hills. Industries started setting up projects at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district in 2003. Neighbouring Rayagada too started feeling its impact as the hills are spread over the two districts.
The State Government too wanted to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. Efforts to mine the mineral through Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) was thwarted by repeated agitations by the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The PVTGs came out in the open for the first time and protested against the process.
In the 12 Palli Sabhas organised in 2013 on the direction of the Supreme Court, Dongria Kondhs collectively opposed mining. After a lull, the State Government made a fresh move and this time the apex court rejected the plea.
Rayagada Collector Jagannath Mohanty said the administration started developmental work two years back but unfortunately those were stopped.
However, there will be no let-up in tackling the Maoists, who have set up base in Niyamgiri and are hampering development in the name of protecting the hills from industrialisation and mining.