Update From Surya shankar dash

Lakshman Zamuda, aged between 50-55, has been killed in the police firing at Chandia today while two women have been seriously injured. One of the women, Jema, aged 32 and unmarried has been seriously injured with reports indicating that 6 bullets have hit her waist. The other woman Basanti Bankiri, aged 30, is married and has 4 children. Her legs are injured.

The police and media is trying to manipulate the case. One TV channel first said the man has committed suicide and now it is not mentioning his death. Police is spreading false information… Sources say most local media persons had been taken to Puri by Tata on Sunday where a deal was made to manipulate news from Kalinga Nagar which is evident now… Lakshman Jamuda’s body has been taken by the police for post mortem and they are trying to fudge the report…

Update From Harsh Kapoor

Latest update from a friend:

I just received a phone call from Chandia. When we had visited the village on the 5th as part of a Fact Finding Team we had admitted a lady who was in a very critical condition at a hospital. Her son just called up to give us updates on the recent developments.

The police entered the village in the morning in huge numbers and proceeded to demolish houses whose occupants had refused to be displaced. The people opposed this and the women entered the houses as a sign of protest. They said if you want to demolish the houses demolish them but we won’t leave. At this the policemen dragged them out and lathi charged. When people resisted the lathi charge the police resorted to firing. One man, Lokma Jamuda lost his life and approximately 10 others are wounded. Many are critical with bullet injuries. As of now no medical assistance is available and people are fearful of leaving the area based on their previous experience.The police has taken the body of Lokma Jamuda to Danagudi hospital. His son has also accompanied them and the villagers are worried he may be arrested. The hospital has been cordoned off and the villagers or the press is not allowed to enter the premises.

When the police had entered the village no press was allowed. However, after they left the national and local press persons have flocked the village. But the people don’t expect much from them.

From another friend:

Dear Friends:

I just spoke to Amulya Pati a well known local journalist who lives
not far from the Kalinganagar. (Amulya Pati had himself been very
badly attacked recently by a non state militia in full view and
presence of the police).
Here what Amulya Pati just told me on the phone.
Amula Pati confirms that one person aged 50 has been killed earlier
today in Chandia Village, and some 30 odd people have sustained
injuries. The events took this turn after 25 platoons of armed police
–a force of some 800 men entered the Chandia village at around 9 am
this morning. They proceeded to demolish homes of some people who live
there who have not taken any compensation (on the 6th of May when our
fact finding team visited the Chandia village Police had come demolish
uninhabited homes that were abandoned for the past 4 years). People of
Chandia village vigourously protested and said they would resist, some
300 people from the village assembled near homes, the police was then
ordered to lathi charge the locals who were protesting. People ran but
then local people stated picking up stones and throwing them at the
police, that is when police resorted to firing (no rubber or plastic
bullets it seems).

Local journalists and media are not being allowed in, they are being
kept at a distance of say 2 kms.There is cordon.
The body of the dead man has been locked and kept by the police and
not handed to the people. The injured have been taken to a community
hospital (in Kaliganagar / or somewhere , the exact location was not
clear )

-Harsh Kapoor, New Delhi

Related posts:

1. Kalinga Nagar: Police Lathi charges in Chandia village today
2. URGENT: DEMOCRACY BUTCHERED IN KALINGA NAGAR AS POLICE FORCEFULLY INVADES VILLAGES
3. Tata Steel Plant Foundation being laid with Mysterious Murders Forceful Demolitions in Kalinga Nagar