Thousands pay homage to tribal killed on Jan 2, 2006

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Jajpur, Jan 2 (Odisha.in) Thousands of people from Orissa and outside the State congregated at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district Wednesday to pay homage to 14 tribals killed in police firing while protesting the construction by TATA steel on 2nd Jan 2006.

More than 60,000 people gathered here from the states of Orissa, West Bengal, Chhatisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh and took out a mammoth rally covering a distance of nearly 4 kms starting from Champakoila to Ambagadia.

The local tribals were seen with their traditional weapons and people from other parts such as from Nadigram, Singur, Jagatsingpur, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kalahandi and Sambalpur who have been opposing land acquisition in their respective regions joined them.

Sukra Munda, grand-son of Birsa Munda was one of the main attractions of the rally.

The gathered tribal expressed their solidarity with the Visthapan Virodhi Jana Manch(VVJM) which has been spearheading movement in the area since the killing.

The second anniversary meeting was preceded by elaborate rituals at Champakoila, the firing spot and processions raising slogans against the policies of the state government.

"We don't oppose industries, but oppose the poor industrial policy. We would fight tooth and nail. The industrial houses like Posco, Tata and Mittal are coming here only to exploit locals not for developing the state, a tribal leader said.

Odisha.in

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