Kalinganagar firing anniversary: Tribals vow to continue fight against injustice

Jajpur: The ‘Visthapan Virodhi Jan Manch’ observed ‘Sahid Smruti Diwas’ today to mark the 13th anniversary of Kalinganagar firing incident in which as many as 13 tribals were killed.

The members of the ‘Visthapan Virodhi Jan Manch’ took out a rally towards ‘Birbhumi’ in Ambagadia in Jajpur district where the 2006 'police firing' victims were cremated and paid tributes.

The district administration made adequate security arrangements in view of the anniversary. Seven platoons of police force along with two magistrates and two DSPs were deployed to maintain law and order in the region.

Every year on this day, hundreds of tribals gather at the 'Birbhumi’ at Champakoila village in the district to observe ‘Sahid Smruti Diwas’ (Martyrs’ day) to pay tributes to the tribals who were killed in 'police firing' in 2006.

“We will continue our fight against injustice of the state government, district administration and the companies in Kalinganagar and will intensify our protest in the coming days to provide justice to the tribals,” secretary of 'Visthapan Virodhi Jan Manch’, Rabindra Jarika said.

On January 2, 2006, as many as 13 tribals were killed during a face-off with police while protesting land acquisition for a plant of Tata Steel.