Bhubaneswar: A day after a tribal man died during a protest against a rail line project in Rourkela, Odisha Congress on Sunday demanded compensation of more than Rs one crore to the family of the deceased.
Targeting the BJP government in the state over the incident, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das alleged a protester, Eto Ekka, was killed using a bulldozer.
Claiming that the body of Ekka was still lying at the site, Das sought immediate step to dispose of the remains in a dignified manner.
While more than Rs one crore should be provided to the kin of the deceased, one member of his family must be provided with a job, the PCC chief said.
Accusing the government of trying to facilitating the rail line project to favour a private company, the former Union Minister said grievances of the local tribal community must be heard and considered before proceeding with the work.
It may be noted that the tribal man was killed and several others, including police personnel and government officials, were injured as violence erupted during a protest against the rail line project at Rourkela city on Saturday.
The incident has heightened tensions in the Bandhamunda-Bisra area, where tribal residents have been opposing the project for the last several months, demanding fair compensation for their land. The railway line project seeks to connect Dumerta with the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).
The unrest escalated when villagers gathered at the construction site in Barkani and reportedly attempted to halt work that had resumed in the morning despite their continued protests.
Sources said protester Eto Ekka (37) of Barkani was killed after an earthmover engaged in the project work allegedly hit him.
A large number of locals gathered at the spot and blamed the administration for the death of Ekka.
The agitation turned violent as the protestors hurled stones at the police personnel and government officials deployed at the spot. A few of them also reportedly attacked the security personnel with bow and arrows.
