Berhampur, Dec. 16 :    Berhampur, Dec. 16:  The CPI(M-L) has demanded return of disputed agricultural land under benami possession of non-tribals in Rayagada district to tribals. In a memorandum submitted to the Rayagada district collector, the CPI(M-L) said until the benami owners returned the land they had seized from the tribals, tension between the tribals and the non-tribals in the district could not be resolved. CPI(M-L) leader Dandapani Mohanty said the tribals were becoming aware of their rights and were forcibly cultivating disputed agriculture land. But the benami owners created problems for them during harvesting and tried to take away the yield with the help of the police. Mohanty said the administration had to end the benami occupancy of arable land in the tribal areas of Kolnara, Padamapur and Ramanaguda to dissolve the continuing tension between tribals and non-tribals over land. The CPI(M-L) also criticised the police and the administration for torturing tribals in the name of searching for Sabyasachi Panda, the main accused in the murder of tribal leader Madhav Sabar. The CPI(M-L) alleged that the police conducted late night raids, terrifying tribals. The male members had deserted most of the villages to escape police harassment. CPI(M-L)'s Rayagada district secretary Tripati Gamang alleged that policemen misbehaved with the tribal women and looted their belongings during the search operations. This also led to destruction of standing crops grown by the tribals in the area, he further alleged. He demanded compensation for tribal families whose harvested crop was destroyed and return of belongings taken during the search operations. The CPI(M-L) alleged a nexus between the police and the benami landowners in Rayagada district. It also demanded that the recent practice of lodging 'false cases' against tribal leaders be stopped as it was aggravating tribal anger. The tribals are also demanding that the illicit liquor trade run by the Sundhi community be stopped. Some Scheduled Caste families are traditionally involved in the making and trading of illicit country liquor in the tribal areas. The Sundhis have money and power and play a major role in local elections. The tribals alleged that the Sundhis are destroying tribal unity and, therefore, their liquor trade should be stopped. The CPI(M-L), which is quite active in Rayagada district and is trying to expand its base among the tribals, has also demanded that the tribals in the drought-affected areas of the district be provided rice at Rs 2 per kg and their daily wage for menial work be increased to Rs 70 per day.