Andhra Pradesh: Despite house arrests, protest held demanding action against officials over Valmiki tribe issue

VISAKHAPATNAM: The leaders and activists of Girijana Sangham and few other organizations staged a protest in front of Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) office in Vizag Agency demanding action against the officials who removed Valmiki tribe from the list of the Scheduled Tribes on Andhra Pradesh government's website.
Though the government included the Valmiki tribe on the website after removing it for some days, the removal has led to mental agony among the Valmiki tribes in Vizag, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari districts.
Right before the planned protest on Friday morning, the top leaders of the Girijana Sangham and few other organizations were placed under house arrest at Paderu and few other places in Vizag Agency.
Despite the house arrests of the leaders, the activists participated in the protest march and raised slogans demanding action against the officials.