Tribals hold rally to mark killings
By IANSSaturday, January 2, 2010
BHUBANESWAR - A large number of tribals rallied in Orissa’s Jajpur district Saturday to mark the fourth anniversary of the killing of 14 tribals in police firing while protesting against a proposed steel project there.
Carrying posters and banners, the tribals marched towards the memorial pillar where the victims were cremated en masse in the Kalinga Nagar industrial complex, around 100 km from here.
“A large number of tribals displaced by different projects also attended the rally,” said a member of Vistapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM), a tribal group.
At least 14 tribals, including a high school student, were killed on this day in 2006 while protesting against the setting up of Tata’s six million tonne steel plant.
The Rs.21,000 crore project has been delayed due to stiff resistance from locals over the issue of displacement and rehabilitation.
