A large number of tribals took out a rally on Saturday in Kalinganagar, the steel hub of Jajpur district, to mark the 10th anniversary of the killing of 14 tribals, including three women, in police firing while protesting against Tata’ s proposed steel project.
Ten years ago, the police had fired on tribals protesting against forcible displacement through the construction of a boundary wall by the Tata Steel for its 6 million tonnes steel plant in the steel hub. Anti-industry groups under the banner of Bisthapan Birodhi Janamanch (BBJM) assembled on Saturday at Ambagadia, where the tribals killed in the police action.
The tribals, mostly women and children, brandishing with sword, 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 seven years back, shouting slogans against the State Government and Tatas.
Other than local tribals, various groups from Jagatsingpur, Keonjhar, Niyamgiri and Puri and Chhatisgarh where the locals are opposing land acquisition, expressed their solidarity with BBJM, which is spearheading the anti industrialization movement in the area since the police firing on January 2, 2006.
“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 tribals’ cause. We are ready to die even 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 8,000 people.
“Ruled by Biju Janata Dal, Odisha has remained a highly lawless State with 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 Prasanta Paikray of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.
The killing of 14 tribals in indiscriminate police firing was one of the worst cases of violations of the right to life, said Bhanu Sarangi of CPIMl (New Democracy).
Security was tightened in Kalinganagar area on Saturday. Seven platoons of police were deployed to check any law and order problems, said ASP P Sahani in Jajpur.