Tribals from various parts of Odisha and outside the state assembled at Kalinga Nagar industrial area in Jajpur district Wednesday to observe the 13th anniversary of the police firing in which 13 people were killed on this day in 2006.

Police personnel were deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident and the rally passed off peacefully, police said.

Armed with traditional weapons, the tribals under the banner of anti-displacement 'Vistapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM)' offered prayers at Champakoila, site of the firing incident in 2006, while observing Saheed Divas (Martyrs Day).

A rally was then taken out to where the firing victims had been cremated at Ambagadia and a memorial meeting was held.

VVJM, which has been agitating against displacement due to industrialisation in the area since the Kalinga Nagar firing, observes Sahid Diwas (Martyrs day) every year on this day to pay tributes to the tribals killed in the incident.

We have been fighting for the cause of the tribals who are badly hit by industries in Kalinga Nagar. We are also fighting against the callous attitude of the state government, Jajpur district administration for their apathetic attitude towards tribals, said Rabindra Jarika, the VVJM secretary.

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