Wednesday, January 18 2006 12:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: A house committee of the Orissa Assembly, which visited Kalinga Nagar yesterday (Jan 17,2006) to persuade the agitating tribals to end the stir, has alleged that outsiders, particularly some NGO's, were instigating the tribals to continue their defiance.

The efforts of the 9-member team of the house committee on SC and ST welfare led by former minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Jayaram Pangi to persuade the tribals to end the agitation failed as the latter rejected their request.

They also refused to lift the blockade on the Daitari-Paradip NH-200 which entered the 17th day today. The blockade has been continuing since the January 2 police firing in which 12 tribals including three women were killed and many others injured.

The agitators have been demanding fulfillment their 7-point charter of demands including payment of Rs. 20 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. Ten lakh each to the injured.

They also demanded the resignation of the Chief MinisterNaveen Patnaik and several other ministers besides, institution of criminal cases of the former Jajpur District Magistrate and SP, committee members said.