The proposed move of tribals to forcefully acquire lands allegedly encroached by Tibetan refugees settled at Chandragiri in Gajapati district was postponed after a high-level discussion with officials on Sunday.
Adivasi Dalit Vikash Samiti (ADVS), a tribal organization backed by the CPM, had threatened on Saturday to forcibly plough the areas under Tibetan refugees. "We suspended our agitation after the district administration assured to solve the problem soon. Another round of talks will be held at the collectorate level soon on this issue," said L Ram Gopal Rao, Gajapati district secretary of the CPM. He alleged about 1,000 acre of land has been encroaching by the Tibetans.
Rao said till the matter is solved, neither the local tribals nor the Tibetans will cultivate the disputed land. The encroached land would be identified only after the ongoing demarcation process by officials is complete, sources said.
Tibetans in Chandragiri, however, denied they have encroached upon tribal lands. "We did not encroach upon any land of local tribals. We are ready to vacate the lands if any encroachment is found on our part," said local Tibetan assembly chairman Kenpo Pema Tenphel. "We don't want to confront local people. We are peace-loving and want to settle here in peace with the locals," Tenhel said.
About 2,500 people of Tibet, who had fled their country along with their spiritual leader the Dalia Lama, were settled at Chandragiri in 1966 by the central government. They settled in five camps at Chandragiri, Mahendragarh, Jiranga, Labarsing and Tekkilipadar villages. The land to settle them was given on lease by the government, sources said.
