A large numbers of tribals took out a rally in Kalinga Nagar, the steel hub of Jajpur district, on Monday to mark the 11th anniversary of the killing of 14 tribals, including three women in police firing while protesting against Tata’s proposed steel project.
Eleven 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. The anti-industry groups under the banner of Bisthapan Birodhi Janamanch (BBJM) assembled on Monday at Ambagadia, where the tribals were killed in the police action.
The tribals, mostly women and children, brandishing swords, lathis and other 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 Tata.
Other than local tribals, various groups from Jagatsingpur, Keonjhar, Niyamgiri and Puri and neighbouring Chhattisgarh where the locals are opposing land acquisition, expressed their solidarity with BBJM, which is spearheading the anti industrialization movement in the area since inception of 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 tribal’s cause. We are ready to die even en masse, but will not spare even an inch of land for industry,” said BBJM secretary Rabindra Jarika in the meeting which was attended by at least 8,000 people.
“Ruled by Biju Janata Dal, Odisha remained a highly lawless State with high incidence of atrocities against the tribals and the indigenous people. 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 Pratirodhaka Sangram Samiti (PPSS).
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 , said Managobinda Besra, leader of Adibashi Mahasabha . The meeting was also addressed by Republican Party of India State president Abdul Wali and BBJM president Amarsingh Banra among others.
Security was tightened in Kalinganagar areas on Monday to ward off law and order problem. Four platoons of police were deployed, Kalinganagar police station IIC Rajiv lochan Panda said.