Police claim clue to PPSS network

Police claimed that it has got vital clues about the network of Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) and collection of fund to intensify stir against Posco steel project after arrest PPSS leader Abahya Sahoo.

In another development, PPSS and Left party leaders have decided to sit together at Dhinkia village tomorrow for formation of a steering committee and selection of a new leader to lead PPSS in the absence of Sahoo.

Police has started investigation to unearth the net work of PPSS and source of funds to support the stir against the Posco project even as the news of Sahoo’s luxurious lifestyle trickled in much to the amazement of the local villagers for whom he purportedly fought against the foreign company.

Sahoo, who challenged the government authority in the Posco site area for last three years and virtually ran a parallel administration there, has 26 cases against him on charges of looting, kidnapping, assault, holding foreigners and Posco officials hostage, obstructing and interfering with the work of the government officials etc. During investigation, police found that Sahoo, who owned a multistoried building in Bhubaneswar, had left Dhinkia, his headquarters in Posco site area, on October 4 along with his family members for Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad to spend Dusherra festival there.

On his return on Sunday, he had left his wife at his Bhubanenswar residence and travelled with his son Abhijeet to Dhinkia by a hired vehicle. His son is studying at KIIT, a private engineering college in Bhubaneswar . Paradip police had kept a strict vigil on his movement after he arrived in Bhubaneswar from Hyderabad on Sunday. When Sahoo reached Bhutmundei, on the outskirt of Paradip, the local police led by inspector Bhabanisanakar Mishra arrested him. Police has seized important documents, bank pass books and other materials from him.

Meanwhile, the police has started verifying the amounts deposited in Sahoo’s name in different banks and also the name of contributors or organization funding the anti-Posco agitation. The police is also looking into other documents seized from him. During interrogation, police has got vital clues about the net work of PPSS. Sources said, the police plans to conduct a raid on Sahoo’s properties at his native village at Jireiloa under Erasama police limit.

On the other hand, secretary of PPSS, Sisir Mohapatra has clarified that Sahoo had gone to Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar for a medical checkup as his health had deteriorated of late.

Meanwhile, PPSS activists have cut roads connecting Dhinikia –Paradip, Dhinkia –Trilochanpur, Gobindpur- Nuagaon to prevent the entry of police and outsiders. Secretary of PPSS, Mohapatra has convened a meeting tomorrow at Dhinkia to form steering committee to chalk out future strategies to intensify stir against the Posco steel project. He informed that a new leader of PPSS will be selected on Wednesday to lead the movement.