Post News Network
Kalinganagar, Jan 1: Even as the police firing incident here in Jajpur district in which 14 tribals were killed and 50 others were injured completes nine years Friday, the anti-displacement stir by tribals is slowly losing steam due to increasing
differences among its leaders. The usual
excitement found among the tribals ahead of the Martyrs’ Day observations was
found missing.
This happened after severe differences arose between the tribal leaders following which president Chakradhar Haibru of anti-displacement outfit Bisthapan Birodhi Janmanch (BBJ) distanced himself from the movement. Moreover, several anti-displacement leaders switched sides and joined the supporters group Bisthapita Parivar Unnayan Parishad (BPUP) and worked for the Tata Company. The difference among the top leadership has only helped to weaken the outfit and its movement.
Meanwhile, the district administration, without leaving anything to chance, has beefed up security in the area as the tribal outfit Bisthapan Birodhi Janmanch
prepares to observe Martyrs’ Day (Sahid Diwas) Friday.
Five platoons of armed police, 20 police officers and three magistrates were
deployed in the area as a preventive
measure during Martyrs’ Day observation.
Both the BBJ and BPUP will hold separate meetings at Veerbhumi in Ambagadia and Gobarghati Colony-phase-II respectively to commemorate the death anniversary of tribals killed in police firing January 2, 2006. The displacement problem, however, which stirred the tribals nine years ago in Kalinganagar is still there in a subtle form. Tension ran high when Tata company authorities, with the help of police and district officials, tried to level the ground and construct a wall at its project site.
The displaced tribals, in a bid to protect their lands, staged a protest at the project site. The company authorities, ignoring their demands, continued with their work which ultimately resulted in a clash between police and the tribals.
Police tried to quell the protest and
resorted to firing, following which 12
tribals were killed and as many as 50 persons were injured. A police constable Gopinath Mohanty was killed in the clash, while two of the triabls succumbed to their injuries during treatment. Later,
according to tribal customs, the mass
cremation of the slain tribals were
performed at Ambagadia.
They named the place as Veerbhumi and erected a memorial. Not to be cowed down, the tribals later staged an economic blockade at Ambagadia on National Highway-200 connecting Kalinganagar with Chandikhole for long 14-months.
