Indian tribals search for missing relatives

Indian tribals search for missing relatives

By Venkitesh Ramakrishnan
BBC correspondent in Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala

Some of the tribals were wounded in the fighting

Several tribal families in the south Indian state of Kerala are desperately searching for relatives and friends who have been missing for more than a week.

Over 300 tribals were reported missing following clashes between members of security agencies and tribals at the Muthanga Wildlife sanctuary in the northern district of Wayanad.

The clashes took place after security personnel tried to evacuate landless tribals who had illegally occupied the sanctuary to press home their demand for land.

A large number of organisations including the main opposition party in Kerala - Communist Party of India (Marxist) - have aired fears that some of the missing tribals could have died in the deep forests while fleeing from the police.

The government, however, says only two have died in the clashes - a policeman and a tribal person.

Inquiry demanded

People living in several tribal colonies in and around Wayanad have complained that the police have unleashed a reign of terror following the 19 February clashes.

The tribals' plight has attracted countrywide attention.

Human rights organisations and social activists have visited the area and condemned the police action.

They include the national Human Rights Commission, the Scheduled Caste and Tribes Commissions, and Booker Prize winning author Arundhati Roy.

A Communist party legislator is on a hunger strike before the state assembly demanding a judicial inquiry into all the incidents.

The government, however, has refused to concede the demand.