Tribals protest, block roads in Orissa

The protest follows the death of nine tribals who were killed in a clash with the police the day before.

Thousands of tribals blocked roads in three places in Orissa's Jajpur district on Tuesday to protest police action, a day after nine persons were killed when tribals clashed with police during a protest over construction works by a steel company.

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While official figures put the death toll at nine, including a policeman, and over a dozen critically injured, local media have put the death toll at 13.

The local administration in Kalinga Nagar has imposed a curfew and deployed around 700 policemen as a precautionary measure.

The protesting tribals had alleged that they were not adequately compensated for their land that the company wanted to acquire for its plant.

Over 500 tribals had clashed with police on Monday at Kalinga Nagar industrial complex in Jajpur district to protest a boundary wall being built by the Tata Steel Company.