Date:19/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/19/stories/2004121902491000.htm

National

Stir against alumina refinery project gathers momentum

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, DEC. 18. The agitation against the proposed alumina refinery project in Kashipur block of Orissa's Rayagada district has gathered momentum with a number of Left parties and progressive organisations backing it strongly.

``We strongly support the Kashipur movement led by the Prakrutika Sampad Surakhya Parishad (PSSP) which has been opposing the alumina project,'' said Narayan Reddy, Communist Party of India legislator, at a press conference here today.

Mr. Reddy condemned the police action against him and leaders of other Left parties on December 16 when they were on their way to attend a public meeting at Bagrijhola village in Kashipur. The meeting was organised by the PSSP in memory of the three tribals, who were killed in police firing that day.

Mr. Reddy said that he and the other leaders were detained at the Tikiri police station and prevented from proceeding towards Bagrijhola to attend the rally.

Terming the police action as ``anti-democratic,'' Mr. Reddy said that the Kashipur incident was a case of State-sponsored terrorism.

``This is a case of industrialisation at gunpoint as the State power is repressing all opposition to the proposed alumina plant, which is considered dangerous for the inhabitants of Kashipur and adjoining areas,'' Mr. Reddy and other leaders said in a statement.