Hundreds of tribals led by Vistapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM), which is spearheading anti-displacement movement in Odisha, observed the 10th anniversary of Kalinga Nagar police firing in which 14 tribals were killed.
The 14 tribals were killed during protests against the construction of the boundary wall of a private steel company.
Several tribal leaders, anti-displacement and human rights activists from the state and beyond gathered at Chandia from where they marched to Mamalingi, where the firing took place on January 2, 2006.
At Mamallingi, the tribals armed with their traditional weapons paid rich tributes to those killed that day and proceeded to the 'Birbhumi' where their mass cremation was held.
"We are protesting against displacement and land grabbing by the company since the Kalinga Nagar police firing," said Rabindra Jarika, secretary of VVJM.
To prevent any untoward incident seven platoons of police were deployed in the area.
The rally and the meeting passed off peacefully, said P K Sahani, additional Superintendent of police of Kalinganagar.
