Various tribal organisations such as Lodha Sabar Kalyan Samiti, Midnapore Suraksha Samiti participated in the strike. Tribal leader Chattradhar Mahato said the strike will continue till the administration agrees to implement the Act.
Mahato also announced that tribals will launch a fresh movement in the district because the administration has not kept its promises as per the talks held on December 8 at Lalgarh. Many tribal organisations will participate in the movement to be organised across the district from January 3, he added. Mahato alleged that the government had not penalised the policemen, who had assaulted the women at Lalgarh during raids in villages after the Salboni blast on November 2.
District Magistrate of West Midnapore N S Nigam said the government has already undertaken many development projects in tribal areas. The district administration has asked the tribal organisations to put forth their demands. “They are now demanding for the employment of Lodha tribes in state government services. Such demands could not be accepted,” said Nigam.