Thousands of tribals including a large number of women and children had gathered at Ambagadia and paid homage to the martyrs.
“We have organized this gathering to pay our homage to our martyrs and hope to intensify our fight nation wide against displacement”, said Rabindra Jarika, VVJM secretary.
It may be recalled that on 2nd January, 2006, 14 tribals were killed at Kalinga Nagar in police firing while protesting against the construction works of the Tata Steel project and one policeman was hacked to death by the enraged agitators. The killing had evoked sharp national and even international outrage.
Police have stepped up security arrangements in the area to avoid any law and order situation that may arise during the rally.
Interestingly, the state government could make no headway in investing the case despite making three inquiry commissions within five years of the incident.
In 2006, the state government had constituted justice A. S. Naidu Commission for a judicial inquiry into the matter which had interrogated 45 persons including the local MLA and other leaders related to the incident. But the Commision was closed on May 2007 after a directive from the Supreme Court that Naidu can’t head the commission since he was then working as a justice in the High Court.
Later in January 2008, Justice (retired) R. K. Patra Commission was constituted who recorded the statements of the then Collector and Suprintendent of Police of Jajpur. With the state government appointing Justice Patra as Lokpal, this commission too was closed and another Commission headed by Justice (retired) P.K.Mohanty was constituted
While Justice Mohanty who had a visit to the spot on May last year is yet to submit the investigation report, the Home department remains tight lipped on why there is so much delay in the investigation.