Monday, January 2 2006 14:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: At least six persons, including a policeman, were killed when a crowd of tribals clashed with police at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district of Orissa today (Jan 02, 2006), police said.

The crowd, which opposed the construction of a boundary wall of a company there, allegedly resorted to brick batting and shot arrows at the police injuring several policemen.

Police resorted to a lathi charge and burst tear gas squibs, which had little impact on the marauding tribals, a senior police official said.

The cops then opened fire in which five persons were killed and three others injured.

However, the crowd also attacked a policeman who was later found dead, he said.

The tribals retreated following the firing. Several policemen have been injured in the incident.

Police reinforcement have been rushed to the spot. Jajpur district collector Saswat Mishra and superintendent of police Binoytosh Mishra were camping at the spot while the Inspector General of Police (law and order) B B Mishra has rushed there from Cuttack.

Tribals in the Kalinga Nagar area, being developed as a steel hub with several companies keen to set up steel projects there, had been opposing some projects.