Former Prominent MLA Nagireddi Narayan Reddy Receives Life Imprisonment for 1998 Clash Resulting in Police Inspector’s Death
A significant legal verdict reverberated through the district court of Odisha on Monday as former CPI MLA Nagireddi Narayan Reddy was handed a life imprisonment sentence. The conviction stems from a tragic incident that unfolded in June 1998, marked by a clash related to land acquisition for a Tata Steel-owned steel plant, which regrettably resulted in the demise of a police inspector.
The pronouncement was made by the Additional District Judge (ADJ)-3 court, Berhampur, which found Reddy and 12 co-accused individuals culpable for their roles in the unfortunate demise of Reserve Police Inspector Binoba Meher.
Nagireddi Narayan Reddy, renowned for representing the Chatrapur assembly constituency from 2004 to 2009, expressed his determination to contest the verdict alongside the other convicted individuals in higher courts.
The tragic incident unfolded on June 18, 1998, during a meeting convened by the administration in Sindhigaon village. What began as a gathering quickly escalated into a clash between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel. Tragically, Inspector Meher lost his life during this confrontation. In the aftermath, legal proceedings were initiated, ultimately resulting in the registration of a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Reddy and 22 others. It’s pertinent to note that eight of the accused individuals have since passed away.
Originating from Chamakhandi, Reddy’s influence extended beyond his tenure as an MLA; he was a notable trade union leader who spearheaded protests against land acquisition. His activism led him to be arrested in December 2011 for his involvement in a demonstration opposing land acquisition for a project by South Korean steel giant POSCO in Erasama. Intriguingly, POSCO eventually withdrew from the project.
Tata Steel, in August 1995, unveiled an ambitious proposal to establish a steel plant in Gopalpur, Ganjam. This endeavor necessitated the acquisition of approximately 3,000 acres of land by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, a process fraught with resistance from local communities. However, Tata Steel later abandoned the initial plan. Subsequently, in 2010, the company pivoted towards the creation of an industrial park and a special economic zone (SEZ) on the previously acquired land.
The expansive industrial park encompasses a multifaceted array of initiatives, notably featuring a multi-product SEZ sprawling over 2,570 acres, alongside the Gopalpur ferro chrome plant project commissioned by Tata Steel in 2017. Moreover, the SEZ has paved the way for the emergence of several other units, thus augmenting the region’s economic landscape.
Prasanta Patnaik