Saturday, January 7 2006 11:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: The state-wide protest called in Orissa against the killing of 12 tribals in police firing at Kalinga Nagar on January 2 began this morning (Jan 07, 2006).

The protest call, an euphemism for a bandh, was given by the Kalinga Nagar Surakhya Samiti which had been supported by seven opposition parties including the Congress and Left.

The opposition had given a call to paralyse the state to protest the firing and demand the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Bandhs have also been called in neighbouring Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh by the opposition to protest the killings.

Elaborate security arrangements had been made in the capital city where 15 platoons of armed police had been deployed including one platoon of Rapid Action Force (RAF).

Barricades had been erected around the state assembly and secretariat complexes here while employees had been directed to come to office ahead of the scheduled time.

However, as a precautionary measure the government had directed all schools in the state to remain closed today.

A large crowd of tribals had clashed with the police at Kalinga Nagar on Monday last when they protested the commencement of work on a six million tonne steel project of the Tata Steel demanding adequate compensation for their land.

This led to a fracas following which police opened fire killing 12 tribals and injuring over forty others. The tribals hacked to death a police havaldar.

Besides the Congress, the parties supporting the stir are Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M), OGP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Janata Dal(S) and Samajwadi Party.