Andhra Pradesh: Tribals stage ‘mock suicides’ over destruction of cashew plantations

Mining company destroying crops, they allege

Tribal women of Urlova village of V. Madugula mandal staged a symbolic protest by tying saris around their neck and the other ends to the branches, enacting an act of suicide, in their cashew plantations at Urlovakonda of V. Madugula mandal, which is now placed under Anakapalli district, on Thursday.

The tribals alleged that the mining company representatives with the support of the revenue officials were destroying their cashew plantations, which they have been raising for the past several years.

The tribals said they would be left with no choice but to end their lives if the destruction of their cashew plantations was not halted. They demanded a probe by the Anakapalli Joint Collector on the issue.

The tribals said that they were dependent on the cashew plantations for their livelihood and ‘D’ pattas were issued to them in the past. They disputed the claims of the mining company representatives and the revenue officials that they had taken money from the mining company.

The tribals plan to stage a protest at the Anakapalli Collectorate on April 11.

E. Narasimha Murthy, Girijan Sangham district general secretary, and K. Bhavani of Agriculture Workers Union, led the protest.