Virasam flays death penalty for 4 tribals

HYDERABAD: The Revolutionary Writers Association (Virasam) on Tuesday demanded revocation of the death sentence awarded to Jeeten Marandi, Anil Ram, Manoj Rajwar and Chhatrapati Mandal who were pronounced guilty in the Chilkari case in Jharkhand where 19 people were killed in 2007. P Varavara Rao,  Ratnamala and other senior members of the Viplava Rachayitala Sangham said that the Giridih district (Jharkhand) sessions court pronounced death for the accused who were only cultural activists who created awareness among the tribal people on their rights and responsibilities. Pronouncing death sentences in a case with which the accused had no connection was nothing but an act of revenge against Jeeten and his three fellow activists for creating awareness among tribals on their rights.The revolutionary writers demanded that the death sentences be revoked and the activists released immediately. They also wanted the government to stop the Operation Green Hunt and withdraw the military  from the Dandakaranya.Jeeten Marandi is a well-known Adivasi cultural artiste and leader of Jharkhand Abhen, a cultural organisation, the Virasam members claimed.