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Tribe Evicted From Forest in Kerala

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

The New York Times, Feb. 22, 2003

"The police in southern India have evicted hundreds of tribal people from a wildlife sanctuary the tribe claims as its ancestral land after a violent clash to free hostages, authorities said. About 1,250 people, including children, were evicted on Thursday from the Muthanga Forest in the southern Indian state of Kerala, and the police arrested at least 287 people. The tribe was first evicted in Aug. 2001, but families moved back on Jan. 1, claiming they were not given adequate alternative housing. The tribe took 18 guards and officials hostage on Monday, and when negotiations failed, the police took the sanctuary by force. A police officer and four tribesman were killed."
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