A large number of tribals rallied in Kalinga Nagar, the steel hub of Jajpur district on Tuesday, to mark the 12th anniversary of the killing of 14 tribals, including three women, in police firing while protesting against a Tata's proposed steel project.
About 12 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 Tuesday at Ambagadia, where the tribals were massacred.
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 in the Kalinga Nagar industrial complex shouting slogans against the State Government and Tatas.
Other than local tribals, various groups from Jagatsingpur, Keonjhar, Niyamgiri and Puri and Chattisgarh where the locals are opposing land acquisition, expressed their solidarity with the 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. We are ready to die even in en masse, but will not spare even an inch of land for industry," said secretary BBJM Rabindra Jarika in a meeting which was attended by at least 8,000 people. Among others, Prasanta Paikray of Posco Pratirodhaka Sangram Samiti (PPSS) and CPIML (New Democracy) leader Bhanu Sarangi addressed.
Security was tightened in Kalinganagar areas on Tuesday. Seven platoons of police were deployed to check any law and order problems.