E-Paper
Police firing on Orissa tribals condemned
THE CENTRAL executive committee of the All-India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) condemned the killing of more than 30 tribals in police firing on those protesting against the setting up of a steel plant in Orissa.
THE CENTRAL executive committee of the All-India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) condemned the killing of more than 30 tribals in police firing on those protesting against the setting up of a steel plant in Orissa.
In a Press release, Sabha national secretary Dr Ashish Mittal alleged that the Orissa Government had displaced hundreds of tribal villagers in Kalinga Nagar area to set up an industrial complex without providing for any resettlement.
The tribals were assured both resettlement and repeatedly told that unless this was done, no industry would be set up.
But, Dr Mittal said, today when a private company began bhoomi poojan under heavy police protection, tribals protested and were fired upon, leading to 30 deaths and injuries to hundreds of others.
He said that earlier, on May 9, 2005, tribals had protested against bhoomi poojan by Maharashtra Seamless Steel Ltd in Khurunti village and they had been lathi-charged.
Later, police had entered villages in large numbers and driven many of them into the forests and the mountains. Five people, including three children, died as a result of this assault.
Dr Mital said that the AIKMS had demanded immediate ban on the operation of private steel companies, suspension and arrest of the guilty police personnel, the SP and the district magistrate and a total ban on establishment of Kalinga Nagar Complex until all tribals of the area were resettled.
