Despite the Sundargarh district administration’s imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC at all sensitive places across the district, including Rourkela city, the Adivashi Milita Manch under the leadership of Biramitrapur MlA George Tirkey went ahead with their call for an economic blockade on Tuesday in the district protesting against the corporation status to Rourkela.
The administration deployed 30 platoons of police force, three battalions RPF across the district. Despite this, movement of trains on Howrah-Mumbai route was severely affected from 11 am as the tribals have sat on the tracks at Kukuda Gate near Bondhamunda and TCI Chowk near Kalunga. According to Rourkela Station Manager AK Mishra, many trains were also stranded in between Jharsuguda-Rourkela and Chakradharpur-Rourkela.
Earlier, the agitators who were attempting to blockade the NH-143 at Fertiliser Chowk and Vedavyas Chowk were arrested by the police to clear the road. Till late evening, about 250 agitators were detained by police.
District Collector BS Poonia said the administration was taking all possible steps to restore normalcy in the situation. Commissioner of Rourkela Municipality DP Mohapatra said, “We have informed the situation to the Government.”
Th tribals alleged that the corporation tag to Rourkela is violation of the PESA. Even earlier on November 25 last year, the tribals had resorted to road blockade demanding exclusion of their areas from the proposed Rourkela Municipal Corporation jurisdiction.