Tribals sacrifice animals in Balangir

Defying the prohibitory order imposed by the district administration of Balangir, tribals today sacrificed animals at Khairguda, Kumuria, Khalikani and Mirdhapali villages as part of their annual Sulia festival.
Hundreds of tribals came out in a rally at Bada Khala and started sacrificing animals after puja and other rituals despite deployment of a large police force with a magistrate to avoid law and order situation.
Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Balangir Narayan Naik said that administration had done everything it could do.
"Adequate police arrangement has been done to maintain law and order during the festival. Some sacrifice has been performed, but we are discouraging it so that it doesn't happen in a massive scale. All the three sites where the sacrifice takes place have been cordoned off by the police and we are restraining people from coming to the spot with animal", Naik said.

Reacting to the police action Braja Singh Bhoi , the president of the Adivasi kalyan sangha said that the tribals are just performing their socio-cultural rituals and alleged that the administration is unnecessary creating hurdles on it.