Northeast Desk, 7th December: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) has raised serious concerns, alleging that the state government is withholding accurate information from the committee responsible for overseeing the situation, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to restore peace in the region.
In a letter addressed to Justice Gita Mittal (Retd.), Chairperson of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee on rehabilitation, the ITLF claimed that there has been a lack of communication regarding the committee’s findings. The letter asserted that no emails, phone calls, meetings, or discussions took place between the committee and ITLF or Joint Philanthropic Organisation (JPO).
The top organizations, ITLF and JPO, stated that the committee did not engage in any contact or discussion with them. While some tribal bodies participated in a meeting with the administration and the committee to address issues faced by tribal students, such as damaged educational documents and concerns about the relocation or continuation of classes for MBBS, Engineering, Nursing, and University students, the tribal bodies question the basis for certain comments made in the committee’s report.
The tribal body expressed doubt that the state may not have facilitated arrangements for the committee to meet with leading tribal organizations. The letter urged the committee to establish formal contacts and engage in discussions with recognized tribal leaders, assuring full and prompt cooperation.
Referring to reports number 13 and 14 submitted by the committee, the tribal body contested the propaganda by the state and the dominant community against the tribals. They highlighted instances where tribal organizations protested the delay in handing over bodies, symbolized by placing 100 empty coffins before the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The ITLF emphasized that the tribal organizations never refused compensation and did not instigate anyone to reject compensation. The letter clarified that tribals view accepting money at this stage as an insult to the dead and intend to make decisions about compensation after dignified burials according to tribal customs.
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