Kalinga Nagar tribals attack survey officials

Jajpur,Jan 17 (UNI) In a fresh violence the agitated Kalinga Nagar tribals protesting against displacement of people in the area,today attacked a survey team which went to the area for spot verification.

At least two survey officials were assaulted and their vehicle was damaged by the tribals while three others including the driver managed to flee from the scene.

The police on being informed about the incident rushed to the spot and shifted the injured survey officials to a local hospital.

The situation in Kalinga Nagar was stated to be again tense following the incident.

When contacted the district officials maintained that they were not intimated by any survey group to visit the area which has become more sensitive and tense since January 2,last year after 13 tribals were killed in police firing for opposing the construction of a boundary wall of a steel project of Tatas.

Sources said the team had gone to the area inside the Kalinga Nagar industrial complex where the Maharastra Seamless Company was allotted land to set up the plant.The Company had abandoned its proposal to set up the plant last year and the land was supposed to be allotted to Tatas who have proposed to set up a 10 MTPA steel plant in the area.

While the agitated villagers alleged that the officials form the Tatas had gone to the spot to undertake the survey, the Tatas maintained that Geo Designer,a survey company which had earlier carried out field survey in the area for various companies,had deputed some of its officials for a spot verification of the area.

No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.The police reinforcement has been beefed up after the incident.

UNI