Tribals observed 15th anniversary of Kalinganagar killing
By Akshya rout
Jajpur,JAN 2: A large number of tribals rallied in Kalinga Nagar, the steel hub of Jajpur district on Saturday to mark the 15th anniversary of the killing of 14 tribals including three women in police firing while protesting against Tata’ s proposed steel project .
15 years ago, the police had fired on tribals protesting against forcible displacement through the construction of a boundary wall by Tata Steel for its 6 million tonnes steel plant in the steel hub. The anti-industry groups under the banner of Visthapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM) assembled on Saturday at Ambagadia, where the tribals were killed in the police action .
The tribals, mostly women and children, brandishing with swords, lathis and their traditional weapons took out a 6 km long rally from Birbhumi, the firing spot to Ambagadia. Carrying posters and banners, the tribals marched towards the memorial pillar where the victims were cremated en masse 15 years back in the Kalinga Nagar industrial complex shouting slogans against the state government and Tatas.
” We won’t tolerate any torture on the innocent tribals. There shouldn’t be any industry at the cost of tribals and their livelihood. Our fight against industrialisation will continue till the government changes its decision to set up industries on farm land. Fourteen of our fellow men sacrificed their lives for tribal’ s cause. We are ready to die even in en masse, but will not spare even an inch of land for industry,” said Rabindra Jarika, secretary BBJM in the meeting which was attended by at least eight thousand people.
“Ruled by Biju Janata Dal, Orissa remained a highly lawless State with a high incidence of atrocities against the tribals , the indigenous peoples. Arbitrary violation of the right to life was an integral part of maintenance of law and order especially in respect of any unrest involving tribal peoples”, said Sini Soy, a tribal leader.
The killing of 14 tribals in indiscriminate police firing at Kalinga Nagar, Orissa on 2 January 2006 was one of the worst cases of violations of the right to life perpetrated by the security forces in India , added Soy.
Security has been tightened in Kalinganagar areas on Saturday. Seven platoons of police have been deployed to check any law and order problems, said Rahul PR the Jajpur superintendent of police
