Naxal threat worries Posco supporters

A Naxalite threat to leaders of the United Action Committee, a group in favour of the proposed mega-steel project of Korea’s Posco, and to elected representatives of the Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchayats for extending support to the project has spread panic.

Sources said the threats came by post to the working president of UAC, Dhirendra Pallei; a panchayat samiti member of Nuagaon, Saumendra Nayak; the sarpanch of Gadakujang, Nakula Sahu, and another UAC member, Jeevanlal Behera.

Written in Oriya, they advise the UAC and panchayat samiti members to safeguard the motherland and not sell the land to corporate mafia at throwaway prices.

The ultras express anguish at forcible land acquisition at gunpoint in the Posco area. The letter warns the pro-Posco villagers to protest at the project for the safeguard of the land and livelihood of poor and innocent people, failing which they will face dire consequences.

District superintendent of police S Debdatta Singh said, “No one has yet lodged a complaint in a police station regarding the Maoists’ threat. If UAC members will, police will conduct a thorough inquiry and ascertain whether it is genuine or fake.”

UAC secretary Nirvya Samantray said, “UAC has taken this issue seriously.” He urged the police to protect UAC members.

The police at Erasama, in the same block, had in March seized Maoist posters at two places vehemently opposing the Posco project.