E-Paper
Orissa tribals block roads with dead bodies
Opposition leader JB Patnaik demands Naveen's resignation, protestors demand two million compensation.
Tension continued to simmer in Orissa as tribes blocked roads with the bodies of 12 people who were allegedly killed in a police firing for their opposition to the construction works by a steel company.
A group of leaders of the Opposition, headed by former chief minister JB Patnaik, demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the incident.
"The bodies were handed over to their relatives on Tuesday after the post mortem examination. But instead of cremating them, the tribals blocked the Daitari-Paradip express highway with the bodies," district police chief Binaytosh Mishra said.
The protestors have demanded two million rupees as compensation for the family of the victims and also want Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to visit them.
Road blocks were also put up in a dozen other places in Jajpur district.
Security has been tightened as a result and people have been advised to avoid that route.
"We have tightened security in the areas and asked people with vehicles to avoid that road. The number of policemen deployed at Kalinga Nagar and nearby places was increased to 800," Mishra added.
