After holding up traffic on the Daitari-Paradip Express highway (NH-200) in Kalinga Nagar since the last 14 months, tribals opposed to displacement for industrialisation in the area, lifted the blockade past midnight in the early hours of Friday, officials said.
Around 60 tribals, a large number of them women, conducted an elaborate puja at the spot near Ambagadia village where the blockade had been continuing for 431 days at midnight.
The rituals continued for about 45 minutes after which they removed the stone slabs piled up on the road to allow traffic to move.
The tribals, agitating under the banner of the Bisthapan Virodhi Jana Manch, had started allowing small private vehicles on the expressway from October 24, but had debarred trucks from using the same.
The expressway, considered an economic lifeline as it linked the mineral rich hinterland of Sukinda area of Jajpur district and Keonjhar district with the Paradip port, could not be used by mineral bearing trucks, which had to make a detour.
However, circumspect truck drivers had not ventured to use the portion of the highway, which had been opened on Friday morning, the sources said.
The tribals, who had been negotiating with the administration and appeared inclined to lift the blockade after receiving on Tuesday the severed palms of five victims of the January 2, 2006, police firing, a vexed issue since the incident, demanded enhanced compensation for the families of those killed, blurring the prospects of a settlement.
But BVJM general secretary Rabindra Jarika announced on Thursday evening that they had decided to end the blockade as a mark of respect to the Orissa high court, which had directed the state government to clear the blockade.
However, he clarified that the tribals would continue their agitation against displacement.
Jarika also said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had assured in writting that he would "look after" the problems of tribals.
The high court had directed the state government to clear the blockade which had been continuing for months following which a meeting had been arranged between the chief minister and the BVJM leaders on January 31.
As the government was to report to the high court on Friday about the progress made in the matter, the administration was keen to get the blockade lifted and even considered applying force if required.
A large contingent of armed police had been deployed in Kalinga Nagar over the last two days for the purpose.
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