Tuesday, January 10 2006 10:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rourkela: Armed tribals took to the streets in this steel city and its neighbourhood and set ablaze three trucks, two dumpers and a three-wheeler at Panposh and Beldih areas today (Jan 10, 2006) demanding that surplus land acquired by the Rourkela Steel Plant about 50 years ago be returned to its owners.

Carrying bows, arrows and axes, the tribals fanned out in different locations in the wee hours and stopped the traffic, official sources said.

Two local organisations had given a call for an economic blockade from today in support of their demands.

The protesters blocked all entry points to the city by burning automobile tyres and placing boulders on the roads, official sources said.

Picketing was also continuing at the entry points, including at Jalda where the NH 23 connects the city.

Train movement has been blocked by a crowd of about 1200 tribals, including a large number of women, led by Lakra and local CPI-M leader Surendra Das the Kukudagate level crossing, the sources said. They marched to the spot from Pegrabahal village where other tribals from different nearby villages converged this morning.

Railway sources said several trains had passed the city till about 8 am but the blockade would disrupt rail traffic now.

Rourkela police superintendent D S Kutte had reached Kukudagate with forces and was monitoring the situation, the sources added.