Kalinganagar Firing: Chopped palms found near Saheed Stambh

Jajpur: Tension prevailed at Ambagadia after 10 chopped palms, suspected to be that of those tribals killed in Kalinganagar police firing in January 2006, were found near Saheed Stambha in the district today.

All the palms, preserved in a medical box, were kept in a safe custody at Club after the family members of the deceased had refused to accept and cremate them demanding a DNA test.

It is suspected that the chopped palms were taken out by breaking the locks of the Club last night.

The incident triggered tension in the area today with members of Bisthapan Birodhi Jana Manch demanding immediate arrest of the miscreants involved in throwing the chopped palms near Saheed Stambh.

Jajpur Additional SP, Rajkishore Dora informed that a mentally unstable person was seen moving near the Club and the matter will be investigated.

It is pertinent to mention here that 13 tribals were killed in police firing in Kalinganagar during a protest against construction of a compound wall of Tata Steel project in 2006.

Following the incident, the palms were chopped for the purpose of establishing identity of the deceased and were returned to family members. However, the palms were then kept inside the Club as family members of the deceased seeking DNA on the chopped palms refused to accept them.