Jajpur: Tension ran high at Ambagadia in Jajpur district after 10 chopped palms and hands, suspected to be that of Kalinganagar firing victims, were found strewn in an open field near Veer Bhumi memorial site (Saheed Stambh) here Sunday.
The chopped palms are suspected to be that of tribal protesters and a policeman who had died in police firing during a demonstration against Tata Steel 12 years back in January 2006.
According to reports, the chopped palms were preserved in a box and kept in a club after family members of the deceased refused to accept them demanding a DNA test. However, late Saturday night, some miscreants broke open the lock of the club and scattered the severed palms around the Birabhoomi field.
Soon after, members of Visthapan Virodhi Jan March gathered in protest and demanded an investigation into the matter and arrest of the miscreants.
Notably, Kalinga Nagar, where the Tatas had acquired land for a `15,400-crore six-million-tonne steel plant, witnessed violent clashes January 2, 2006, between cops and tribals who feared displacement.
At least 13 tribal protestors died in police firing during land acquisition for the TATA Steel project.
Postmortem of seven bodies was conducted but doctors at Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital had to cut the palms of other victims to obtain fingerprints as the faces of the five tribals were disfigured in the firing.
This resulted in a hue and cry among human rights activists. The severed hands of the deceased were later returned to their family members by the district administration but people refused to accept them.
Since then, the chopped palms were preserved in a medical box in formalin solution and kept in a club.
However, the palms were reportedly taken out by breaking the locks of the club Saturday night and thrown near the Saheed Stambh.
While the area remained tense following the incident, police reached the spot and began a probe. Police personnel have been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.