Locals, police clash in Kalinganagar

One dead, many hurt.

The agitation against Tata Steel's six million tonne steel project at Kalinganagar in Orissa's Jajpur district once again turned violent today leading to the death of one tribal and injuries to several others.

The deceased has been identified as Laxman Jamuda, a 60 year old resident of Chandia village.

The violence erupted following the clash between the police and locals of Chandia village, the stronghold of Visthapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM), which has been spearheading agitation against land acquisition for the Tata project ever since the killing of 14 tribals in police firing in January, 2006.

The incident took place in the morning when some of the displaced (currently lodged in a rehabilitation centre) had gone to the village under police protection to demolish their houses and take out their belongings to make them eligible to receive compensation.

As soon as the security men accompanying the displaced persons and project officials arrived at the village, a crowd attacked them with sticks and stones, said D S Kuttey, the Jajpur superintendent of police.

Police lathicharged and fired rubber bullets to disperse the agitating mob. An elderly person while trying to escape, fell down and died, police said, adding, about 12 others have sustained injuries during the clash.

However, VVJM activists alleged that the clash ensued when the police tried to forcibly demolish the house of a woman who was not willing to shift from the village to give way to acquisition of land for the Tata project.

“Armed security men who were accompanied by the project officials, faced the resistance of the resident when they tried to demolish her house forcefully. The security men resorted to lathi charge on the woman and hearing the woman's scream, the villagers came to her rescue. The policemen fired at the mob leaving one dead and about four dozen people injured,” said Rabindra Jarika, secretary, VVJM.

Meanwhile, sources said, the situation in the area continues to be tense. The administration, which had deployed about 400 policemen in the operation today, is keeping a strict vigil on the situation.