The Hindu Business Line : 7 killed in clash at Tata Steel project site in Orissa

FIVE protestors and two policemen were reported killed at the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Estate located in the Jajpur district of Orissa where Tata Steel is building the boundary wall for its proposed 6-million-tonne new steel plant.

It is learnt that the protestors were tribals residing on that piece of land, which is a part of the 2,000 acres given by the Orissa Government to Tata Steel. Apparently, the tribals were not happy with the compensation given by the State Government.

Trouble started in the morning when hundreds of armed tribals started protesting against the civil construction work. The police initially lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob but the protestors, armed with bows and arrows, attacked the policemen and the Tata Steel office.

In the clash that ensued , the tribals hacked a policeman to death. Several others sustained injuries. It is learnt that a policeman later succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital. When the policemen opened fire, five protestors were killed.

Tata Steel officials said that the company was in no way involved in the incident. According to a spokesperson, the land was acquired by the State Government way back in 1992 and handed over to the company only last year.

"Yesterday, the State Government asked us to start construction. Accordingly, we decided to build the boundary wall. Then this unfortunate incident happened. We have stopped the civil work. We would now wait for the State Government's advice," the spokesperson told Business Line from Jamshedpur.

It is learnt that the Orissa Government had not only compensated the inhabitants but hadassured them of technical training and job opportunities. Though most of the villagers vacated the land, a few stayed behind.

"It is basically a law and order problem. Tata Steel has got nothing to do in it. However, we are sad about the whole incident," the spokesperson added.