locals staged a dharna in front of the office gate of the Steel Authority of India limited (SAIl) at Bolani in Keonjhar district on Wednesday protesting a tribal's suspicious death in the mines area on January 31. Residents of Bolani Basti and nearby areas alleged that the CISF personnel deployed in the mines area had killed one Kandra Munda (21) on Saturday evening. They also alleged that the jawans had also attacked other two tribals, Birsa Baipai and Arabinda Machhua, passing a road in the mines area on that evening.
The locals demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for the family members of the deceased and immediate arrest of the accused involved in the murder and heinous attack on the tribals. The locals categorically said that the CISF personnel should be booked under law for attacking innocent tribals. local IIC, SDPO and people's representatives assured the locals to take their demands into consideration and requested them to call off their protest. In the evening, the locals called off the strike. SDPO Ajay Swain said they have registered a case in this connection. "We are investigating into the matter," he said.