Blast at Posco site: Prohibitory orders issued in Patana

Paradip: As land acquisition for Posco steel plant continued for second day on Monday in Odisha, Jagatsinghpur district administration clamped prohibitory orders in Patana area where three anti-Posco activists were killed two days ago while allegedly making bombs. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC were imposed in Patana to prevent any law and order problem as some political outfits opposed to Posco plant planned a meeting in the area, Jagatsinghpur district Collecor SK Mallick said.

Land acquisition for the mega project continued as the anti-Posco brigade kept low with reports that many activists were hiding fearing arrest after three members were killed and another critically injured in the blast on Saturday. "Two teams, led by tehsildars of Kujanga and Erasama, have been formed to carry out land acquisition expeditiously," the District Collector said.

"Payments through cheque will be made to land losers after proper valuation," Additional District Magistrate, Paradip, Surjit Das said as 22 betel vine plantations were demolished near Mangalapada area of Gobindpur village. The district collector, SP and other officials supervised the land acquisition which resumed yesterday after remaining suspended from February 6.

On the other hand, encircled by armed policemen, an uneasy calm gripped Patna village under Dhinkia grampanchayat, considered the epi-centre of the anti-Posco agitation. Many men had gone underground or fled fearing arrests following the death of three activists in an explosion on Saturday while allegedly making bombs, police sources said.

The relatives of those killed refused to take the bodies alleging that pro-Posco supporters were behind the blast and the police were trying to cover up by framing charges against the villagers. "We will neither receive the bodies nor perform the last rites till the culprits are arrested," they said. "We issued notice to the relatives of the three deceased requesting them to receive the bodies. But they are not willing to do so," Inspector In-Charge of Kujanga police station Gupteswar Bhoi said.

Over 2,500 cases have been registered against anti-Posco activists in the area in Kujanga police station, while 70 cases were filed against Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samittee chief Abhay Sahoo.