Needed: Nerves Of Steel

Says CPI leader Mayadhar Nayak: "The state government officers have misappropriated a lot of money. That’s why the tribals are angry and have not vacated the land (acquired more than 10 years ago). This tragedy has been brought about solely by corrupt people in the government." TISCO, meanwhile, announced from Jamshedpur that the "unfortunate incident" would delay its plans to set up the plant and washed its hands of the row. The latest protests by the tribals and the violence that followed has sent shockwaves among the existing steel producers in the area and also those, including the Jindals, Essar Steel and Posco, who are planning to set up steel plants in the region.

On January 2, an 800-strong mob of tribals, armed with bows and arrows, tried to stop contractors from constructing a boundary wall on the large plot of land. A strong posse of cops confronted the belligerent tribals, leading to clashes and police firing. The tribals, incensed over the death of their kin, also lynched a police constable. The protest has forced the administration to take a relook at the rehabilitation plan for tribals (prepared by the undp early last year) that it had conveniently put into cold storage.