Democracy or Demon-Crazy in Koraput

BARIA BUTI, aged about 45 years, S/o Baria Dulaba, village Patraput of Kumbhari Panchayat under Narayanpatna police station has been confined in Koraput Jail since November 20, 2009 after the police firing at Narayanpatna.

Baria Buti belongs to the tribal community and is blind. The police also seem equally blind to initiate cases against him of snatching arms from the police station and waging war against the government. Surprisingly, the tribal blind man can not even see arms, so the question of attempting to loot arms is practically not possible, opined Advocate Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik. The movement of Baria inside the jail requires the assistance of another man and even outside the jail too. The police have also initiated another case of attempt to murder, arson and looting. This is the kind of democracy prevailing under Narayanpatna Block in Koraput district.

A Government school teacher, Parsuram Jadingi of Narayanpatna, democratically elected as a Secretary of Narayanpatna Block teachers association, which itself is a democratic organization has been branded as undemocratic and initiated several cases including waging of war against the government. The teacher is also confined inside the Koraput District Jail.

Here’s another story of Sahadev Parida working as a Shikhya Sahayak (Government Primary School teacher working on contractual basis) was shifted by the police along with a few children from the School to Koraput district jail. Parida faces similar charges of waging war against the government, looting, arson and etc.

This is how the democracy is prevailing in Koraput district of Orissa in India. I don’t know whether it is democracy or ‘demon-crazy’ that is prevailing in Koraput. Most of the democrats, who believe that democracy is turning undemocratic fail to raise their voice. The media is also silent, mainstream politicians have become voiceless and this is the state of affairs in Koraput district.

Is it not wise on the part of the intellectuals, and so called democrats and social activists confining themselves and releasing press statements, sitting in Bhubaneswar or Delhi.