Tribal deaths great tragedy, says Sonia

Centre announces Rs 5 lakh aid

The central government today announced an assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of each of the tribals killed in the January 2 firing at Kalinga Nagar in the Jajpur district of Orissa.

This was announced during the visit of Congress chief and UPA Chairman Sonia Gandhi to Kalinga Nagar. Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Home Secretary VK Duggal accompanied her.

Gandhi, who flew into Kalinga Nagar in an IAF chopper, drove to the site where 12 victims of the firing were cremated. She then met victims' family members, who were continuing with their blockade of the Daitary-Paradip expressway for the past 10 days.

Terming it a great tragedy, she said, "My sympathies are with the bereaved families. The Congress is always with the tribals since the days of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. I wish to express my deep felt condolence for the family members of the victims. Justice will be done to them."

Patil announced that each family would be given Rs 5 lakh by the Centre. This will be in addition to the ex-gratia already announced by the state government. The Congress will also provide some help. Patil, however, did not give a direct reply to questions on the law and order situation in Orissa.

Meanwhile, the tribals lifted the blockade for some time today. But the local Anti-Displacement Forum spearheading the agitation is yet to decide whether to end the agitation or not.

Gandhi received a memorandum from forum leader Chakradhar Haibru at Kalinga Nagar. Gandhi and Patil then returned to Bhubaneswar, where they held a review meeting with the senior state government officials including the state chief secretary, home secretary, revenue secretary, steel and mines secretary and director general of police.

Meanwhile, the Orissa government today sought the Central intervention in solving the outstanding issues concerning the tribal land at Rourkela. The local tribals had launched an indefinite economic blockade at Rourkela demanding restoration of surplus land in the hands of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to the original owners.

In a letter to the prime minister, the Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, "As RSP is a central PSU, the Centre has a responsibility in fulfilling the demand of the displaced persons".

The state revenue secretary had brought the issue to the notice of the RSP several times, but there has not been any response in this regard yet, he added.

The agitators taking part in the economic blockade at Rourkela continued to squat on the railway track at Kukudagate near Rourkela disrupting railway services on the Howrah-Mumbai train line.