Rayagada: Over two hundred Dongria Kandhs belonging to 12 villages located on the foothills of Niyamgiri in the district gheraoed Muniguda police station on Saturday, demanding the release of their leader Dasuru Kadraka, who was arrested on charges of Maoist activities two days back.
Wielding traditional weapons, the tribals gheraoed the police station and staged a sit-in in front of it.
They demanded that Kadraka must be released unconditionally.
“He (Kadraka) was taken away by the police when he was going to a daily market. We asked the police why they did so because we know he is innocent. It is fine if they free him. If not, we will take out a rally against the police and the district administration tomorrow,” Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti secretary Lada Sikaka said.
However, police said Kadraka has been forwarded to court for his involvement in Maoist activities.
“They (Kondhs) had come here to protest the arrest of Kadraka, who is involved in the torching of a JCB machine and a tractor in the area. We have evidence against him in connection with the case. The villagers are saying that he is innocent but we convinced them that the police have evidence against him,” Laxman Kumar Patel, additional SP, Rayagada said.