Anti-Posco stir: Officials entry thwarted again

PARADIP: The district administration’s attempt to enter Gobindpur in Dhinkia panchayat, the epicentre of the anti-Posco agitation, was thwarted again by children and women __ belonging to the Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti __ on Saturday.Amid visible tension, hundreds of agitators, including children, prostrated to prevent the officials from entering the proposed steel plant site. Police, therefore, were forced to call off their plan to enter Gobindpur.Hoping for a breakthrough with the protesters, the district administration urged them to come for discussions and warned them against the “unlawful” agitation. The protesters, however, refused to budge, forcing the officials to return disappointed.At Sulei hamlet though __ which falls under the limits of Gobindpur __ the authorities managed to uproot 26 betel vines, despite a dharna there by a six-member political team.The vines belonged to three villagers and a compensation of Rs 2 lakh was paid to them.CPI MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai along with members of CPM, Forward Bloc, RJD and SP reached Gobindpur and sat on dharna protesting forcible land acquisition. Tarai alleged that the district administration used force to uproot betel vines.The agitating team said it would take to the streets if the State Government continued with the “forcible” land acquisition.Meanwhile, land acquisition has been suspended till June 17 in the wake of Raja festival. Jagatsinghpur SP S Debdatta Singh said police could use force the next day if the agitators interfered with the land acquisition process.Protesters have blocked roads in Gobindpur, Dhinkia and Patna to prevent the entry of the police and Government officers.Pro-Posco activists in Dhinkia, who have agreed on demolition of their betel vines, have sought police protection.The pro-Posco villagers were assaulted by anti-Posco activists for agreeing to the district administration’s demands, they alleged. Sources said 25 villagers of Gobindpur had agreed on demolition of their betel vines.A villager said the anti- Posco activists attacked him on Friday night for consenting to demolish his betel vine. “We have no objection to land acquisition but we want the administration to ensure our safety,” he said.