The killing of 14 innocent tribals 14 years back reverberated the air in Ambagadia village near the Kalingnagar steel hub in Jajpur district with large numbers of tribals and other anti-land acquisition leaders converging at the site of 'Birabhumi', the Martyrs Tower, on Thursday to observe the death anniversary.
The police had gunned down 14 tribals including three women on January 2, 2006 while tribals were protesting against construction of a boundary wall of Tata' s steel plant project.
Large numbers of slogan-shouting tribals including many women and others took out a procession from Champakoila to Ambagadia and held a meeting at the martyrs’ tower.
Addressing the meeting, secretary of the Bisthapan Birodhi Jana Mancha (BBJM) Rabindra Jaraka said, "The State Government appointed three inquiry commissions within 11 years to submit a report after conducting judiciary inquiry about the killing of 14 tribals. But the commission is yet to complete the inquiry. "
On the contrary, the Tata company is trying to build another boundary wall for its integrated steel plant by felling the trees on forest land without approval under the Forest Conservation Act 1980 from the Ministry of Ministry of Environment and Forest Climate Change, he alleged.
The forest land where the boundary wall is being constructed is recorded as Sal jungle and the Tata steel company is trying to occupy around 77acres of forest land in two villages in Chandia and Gobaraghati under Danagadi Tehsil without prior approval of Central Government under Forest Conservation Act 1980. Tribals have been living there for many generations and dependent on the forest land which is now being forcefully occupied by the Tata company, he told.
"The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in response to an RTI application has replied on September 21 that that no forest clearance has been granted to Tata Steel at Kalinganagar to expand its steel plant over the 77 acres of forest land. But Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) illegally on September 26, 2005 handed over 932 acres of land including 77.42 acres of forest land in Chandia and Gobarghati villages to the Tata steel limited," Jaraka said.
The meeting was also addressed by Managobinda Besra, leader of Adibashi Mahasabha , Abdul Wali, president of the state unit of Republican Party of India , Amarsingh Banra, president of BBJM, Prasant Pikray nd others.
" Security was tightened in Kalinganagar and its nearby areas on Thursday to prevent any untoward incident. The memorial meeting was peaceful with no report of untoward incident," said Jajpur SP Charan Sing Meena.