By IANS
Ahmedabad : An uneasy calm prevailed in Sabarkantha district of north Gujarat Thursday, a day after two tribal protestors were shot dead in police firing.
There were no reports of any violence in what is known as Polo Forest area in Vijaynagar sub-district, about 200 km from here.
Divisional Forest Officer M.J. Parmar told IANS the area did not witness any fresh incidents. Asked if this indicated a return to normalcy, he said: “What I can say that there is less intensity (of protest).”
Forest authorities, however, were keeping a watch.
Two men were killed when the police opened fire on irate tribals who had barged into the forest office at Antarsumba, 35 km from Idar town, a tribal pocket in Sabarkantha district. They were demanding the release of five of their comrades who were picked by forest authorities for indulging felling trees.
The protestors and forest officials started arguing and their meeting soon turned violent compelling police to open fire, officials said.
In the last five days tribals had reportedly occupied 10 hectares of the forest area. Forest officials insisted the land was occupied by felling trees and setting afire to shrubs and other vegetation.
Asked if the five detained people were released, Parmar said this matter was now before police. He said police had initiated steps for producing them before a court.