Tension prevails in Rayagada dt.

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, DEC. 18. Three days after three tribals, including a woman, were killed in police firing, the situation continued to remain tense in Kashipur area of Rayagada district of Orissa on Monday.

``The situation is yet to come under complete control,'' the Rayagada Superintendent of Police, Mr. Y.K. Jethwa, told The Hindu. A large number of policemen had been deployed in the area to maintain law and order, he added.

The incident of firing took place on Saturday when armed tribals, opposed to the setting up of an aluminium plant at Kashipur, attacked the policemen with bows and arrows.

The deceased have been identified as Raghu Jhuria, Abhilas Jhuria and Rama Jhuria. The bodies have been disposed of after post- mortem, Mr. Jethwa said.

Meanwhile, a rally was taken out today in the district headquarter town of Rayagada by an all-party committee demanding action against those who attacked the BJD district president, Mr. N. Bhaskar Rao, and his supporters at Kashipur on Friday. Participants in the rally raised slogans against Agragami, a voluntary organisation working in the area and others who were opposed to the setting up of the aluminium factory.

The members of the all-party committee, with leaders from the Biju Janata Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, handed over a memorandum to the District Collector demanding action against those assaulted Mr. Bhaskar Rao and his supporters on Friday.

According to Mr. Jethwa, two separate cases had been registered at Kashipur police station - one in connection with the Friday's incident and another against those who attacked the policemen on Saturday. If it was found during investigation that anyone had instigated the tribals to take the law into their hands, action will be initiated against them, he said.

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