Protesters unfurl Gondwana banner in front of Gorewada zoo

Nagpur, Jan 24

The citizens are protesting the name change of Gorewada International Zoo to Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park and office bearers of some of the tribal organisations unfurled a banner which read ‘Gondwana Gorewada International Zoological Museum on Sunday afternoon and also shouted slogans against the name changing.

The Gittikhadan police took four people into custody. Angered by the police action, the tribal went to Gittikhadan police station, after which the police released them.

Tribal organisations officials and former mayor Mayatai Ivnate have alleged that despite our resolve to agitate peacefully, the police are using force against our people.

On the other hand, the Gittikhadan police said that some people were detained for shouting slogans in front of the entrance of the project. They have been released in the evening.

Ivnate said that on the instructions of police commissioner Amitesh Kumar, a meeting of members of the tribal society was called on Sunday afternoon in Police Gymkhana with the assistant commissioner of police special crime branch. In this meeting, the police appealed for a peaceful agitation. Accepting the request, the tribal committee members demanded place for the protest.

The meeting concluded amicably, but still the police detained All India Tribal Development Council president Chandrashekhar Madavi, Vidarbha Yuva president Dinesh Sheram, vice president Vijay Parteki and joint secretary Surendra Naitam at Gittikhandan police station, alleged Ivnate and said that they were kept all day long. She also alleged that the people who had gone to free the workers were also held in the police station.

The police said that four people were shouting slogans in front of the entrance gate of the project, due to which they were taken into preventive custody and later released in the evening to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, around 100-150 citizens gathered in front of the Gittikhadan police station in the evening. Tension prevailed for sometime, but later the police released all the protesters.

Boycott the meeting

Dinesh Sherram told Lokmat Times that the police had called for a a meeting of tribal organiations and officials at Police Gymkhana at 11 am on Monday. In this meeting, it was decided to take decision regarding the protest, but looking at the attitude of the police, the decision to boycott the meeting has been taken by the organisations.