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The first anniversary of killing of 12 tribals in police firing, at Kalinga Nagar in Orissa was observed by holding a photo exhibition here on Tuesday. A dozen tribals, including three women, were killed at Kalinga Nagar, 100 kilometress (60 miles) from Bhubaneswar, a year ago. They were protesting against a move to take over their land to build a steel factory. The police had stated that it opened fire only after being provoked by the tribals. One policeman also died in the clashes. Photographs narrating the brutal incident and events that followed like funerals and protests were displayed as a tribute to the slain tribals. Photojournalist Shivaji Moulik, who organised the exhibition, said that it was a moral duty to highlight the plight of tribals. "I feel that this is my right. I am working for the tribals. I come from tribal area and I cannot tolerate such inhuman behaviour where tribals get killed and then their limbs are cut," he said. Nanda Gopal Bhattacharyya, State Minister for Water Resources, West Bengal, hailed the portrayal of repression. "The exhibition is really good. The pictures of the Kalinga Nagar people, their sufferings, and the repression on the tribal people has been nicely depicted here," he said. The tribesmen have been demanding return of land acquired 50 years back for a steel mill to be set up by the Central government. Poverty-stricken Orissa has a significant tribal population, mostly industrial workers and daily-wage earners. Foreign and Indian private steel companies are setting up huge steel mills in the mineral-rich States of Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, but villagers in these areas complain they have not been adequately compensated for their land.
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