Mangalore, April 14: The Left organisations staged a 24-hour-long hunger strike demanding the release of Vittala Malekudiya, a student of mass communication and journalism in Mangalore University and his father Lingappa Malekudiya, who were arrested on charges of abetting naxals, in front of Belthangady taluk office on Friday.
The protest was organized under the joint auspices of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Adivasi Budakattu Janara Samanvaya Samiti and Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti (CPM).
Speaking on the occasion CPM state secretariat board member G C Bayya Reddy said that Vittala and his father were made scapegoats by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) cops.
“Our party's stand is very clear that the state government should release Vittala and Lingappa, who are innocent. Vittala, who is active member of our party, was never a Naxal supporter,” he said and urged that the duo should be released immediately.
Even though the Forest Rights Act ensures protection of tribals, the government failed in providing basic facilities to tribal families living in Belthangady and other taluks in the state, he said adding that Naxals make use of the situation to build their base in forests.
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