State at fault, say Dalits

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Dalit associations came down heavily on the government on Wednesday for failing to find a solution to the year-long dispute over land submerged by the Madduvalasa irrigation project that had resulted in a clash on Tuesday that left four people dead. The government's lackadaisical approach was to blame, they said, for the absence of peace in Laxmipeta, which comes under the constituency of medical education minister Kondru Muralimohan Rao and where matters had reached a flashpoint over a week ago.

On Wednesday, Dalit associations, in support of Left parties, took out mass rallies in Rajam and Vanga mandals, condemning governmental inaction. The carnage was a burning example of how assurances of security made to the Dalits by the higher castes were routinely belied, said MRPS chief Krishna Madiga. It was a pathetic life the Dalits were leading and they had no voice to raise against such laxity, he said after meeting the families of the deceased in Rajam. A bandh was observed in Rajam and Vangara on Wednesday.

CM’s job offer to calm Laxmipeta
Laxmipeta, a village of about 70 families in Vang-ara mandal of Srikakulam district, wore a deserted look on Wednesday, a day after four persons from Scheduled Caste families of the village were killed during a group clash over their right on an irrigation project on government land. All families from the BC community, who were seen to have been behind the carnage, fled the village, expecting police action and further violence.

As the situation remained tense, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy visited Rajam on Wednesday and promised the families of the victims that the administration would address their problems soon. After handing over cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to families of the four deceased and Rs 25,000 each to the kin of the 35 injured persons at Rajam CHC Hospital, Mr Reddy ordered a probe into the caste-based clash and directed the police to take swift action. Calling the clash “unfortunate”, Mr Reddy said, “Public sector jobs will be offered to family members of the deceased. The injured would also be given em-ployment opportunities.”