Social worker Tulasi Munda speaks at the pro-rehabilitation meet in Kalinganagar. Telegraph picture

Jajpur, Jan. 2: Parallel rallies and meetings by anti-displacement and pro-industrialisation activists passed off peacefully at Kalinganagar, the upcoming steel hub, today.

While thousands of tribals from Orissa and elsewhere participated in a rally and held a meeting under the banner of Vistapan Virodhi Jana Manch (VVJM) to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the 2006 police firing that had claimed the lives of 18 tribals, supporters of industrialisation also took out a rally.

The anti-displacement activists assembled at Ambagadia, where a memorial column has been erected in memory of victims of police firing. Pro-industrialisation activists under the banner of Visthapita Parivar Unyayan Parishad held a parallel meeting at Trijanga colony in support of industrialisation.

Though the two parallel meetings were held at a short distance from each other, there was no clash between the rival groups.

“The rally and meeting passed off peacefully. We had deployed six platoons of police force just to regulate traffic movement,” said Jajpur SP, D.S. Kuttey.

On January 2, 2006, police had to resort to firing following a clash between police personnel and displaced tribals who were opposing the construction of a boundary wall by Tata Steel for its six million tonne steel plant in the steel hub. Fourteen tribals and a policeman were killed in the incident.

Tribals, mostly women and children, with their traditional weapons and attire took out a rally from Birbhumi, the firing spot, to Ambagadia, the mass cremation ground. Carrying posters and banners, the tribals marched towards the memorial pillar where the victims were cremated en masse on the Kalinganagar industrial complex shouting slogans against the Naveen Patnaik government, district police administration and the Tatas.

Representatives of various anti-displacement groups from other parts of the state expressed their solidarity with VVJM, which has been spearheading the anti-industrialisation movement in the area since 2006.

Tribals from Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh also participated in the rally.

The tribals paid tribute to the police firing victims. Earlier in the day, the family members and relatives of the victims offered up flowers and oil following tribal ritual. The rally ended with a meeting in which the speakers pledged support to the anti-displacement agitation in Kalinga Nagar.

“Eighteen of our fellow men sacrificed their lives for tribal’s cause. We are ready to die, but will not spare even an inch of land for industry,” said VVJM secretary Rabindra Jarika.

Hundreds of people under the banner of Visthapita Parivar Unyayan Parishad participated in the pro-industry rally from Military Chhak to Trijanga colony. Veteran tribal leader and noted social activist Tulasi Munda attended the rally.

About six platoons of armed police were deployed in Kalinganagar to maintain law and order.