JAGATSINGHPUR Mar 07. Bowing to pressure from anti Posco activists and anticipating breakdown of local orders district administration on Thursday deferred the land acquisition for the proposed Posco steel project temporarily. In another significant development project opponents accompanied by women rushed towards Govindapur village on Thursday afternoon police prevented them at Patana Hat where confrontation erupted between police and agitators as consequence police resorted mild Lathi charge dispersed the mob, reportedly no one received hurt in the incident, later the situation brought under control.
While reliable sources added that in an unsavory move few anti Posco women who took part in the agitation performed nude protest, following rightful police intervention they stayed away from such nasty exhibition and fled away from the spot fearing arrest.
State government higher ups on Wednesday night had ordered district administration of Jagatsinghpur not to proceed on going betel veins demolition even if the betel growers were agree to give up their land in Govindapur village , acting on the instruction district collector had instructed officials taking a break on land acquisition as consequence on Thursday morning land take over was deferred.
On turn the anti project brigade were happy knowing the land acquisition process put halt but they resumed their agitation demanding withdrawal of police from the Govindapur village and took out a rally from Dhinkia village towards Patana Hat at the outskirts of Govindapur. Police deployed at the spot prevented them as prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPc had clamped banning public gathering at Patana Hat as consequence the agitators confronted with cops, few women staged nude protest there, as consequence police resorted mild Lathi Charge then the agitators returned back to Dhinika and held a protest meeting at the Phula Khai temple there.
Jagatsinghpur district collector S K Mallick admitted police resorted mild Lathi charge over agitators but no one hurt following the drive also described using women and exhibiting nude protest by anti project women an insalubrious incident, it violates the Indecent Representation of women [ Prohibition ] act 1986, the violators would be booked for committing and abetting such rare protest, collector informed.
While sources added no fore front leaders from the anti Posco organization PPSS were present during the protest, fearing arrest many of them including leader Abhya Sahoo had gone underground.
Pro Posco leaders had described using women in project agitation and performing nude protest indicate that the anti project people have adopted hateful step raising their voice which is affecting dignity and liberty of women , persons involved abetting such nonsense should booked and law should take its own course, punishing them , opined Nirvaya Samantray, a project supported leader.
