Ostracisation of families: Notice to PPSS

CUTTACK: In the midst of the persistent stand-off over land acquisition for the Posco steel project, the heat has now shifted on the resistance outfit Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) over ostracisation of families supporting the plant.   A division bench of the Orissa High Court comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra today issued notices to the State Government and the PPSS while admiting two writ petitions filed by eleven members of the ostracised families led by one Chandan Mohanty and Sribatsa Dalai. The petitioners have appealed for reinstatement of their fundamental rights including right to life by enabling their return to their village Patana under Dhinkia and resumption of normal life.  The petitioners alleged that about 52 families had been driven out of their village on June 27, 2007 by the PPSS under the leadership of Abhaya Kumar Sahu as a result of which they have been reduced to leading lives like “animals”, sans shelter, health, education and other basic amenities.  The petitioners have levelled serious charges against the PPSS like assault on the ostracised families and outraging of modesty of women. They further stated that Sahu was not a permanent resident of any of the villages coming under the proposed Posco project. “In order to advance his personal and political interests, he has shifted to Gobindpur and residing in the house of one Ranjan Kumar Swain to incite people against establishment of the steel plant. In the process, the group has been resorting to various violent and undemocratic methods to subdue the supporters”, they alleged.  The petitioners have appealed to the court to direct the authorities including the DGP to facilitate safe return to their village and providing protection to their life, liberty and property.  They have also appealed for declaration of the PPSS as unlawful and unconstitutional and restraining the members of the organisation from entering Dhinkia village in view of their continuous activities in snatching the fundamental rights of the 52 families.