Security beefed up for land acquisition in anti-Posco areas

The Jagatsinghpur district administration may resume land acquisition work for the Posco project at the anti-Posco stronghold of Gobindpur from Wednesday even though there is no official confirmation yet.

In the run-up to the beginning of land acquisition at Gobindpur, the additional district magistrate of Paradip, Sarojkant Chaudhury today conducted a close-door preparatory meeting at Kujang.

Narayan Jena, the Jagatsinghpur district collector said, “The administration is awaiting the views of the district superintendent of police (SP), who is busy assessing the situation and briefing the police forces at Gobindpur for the land acquisition. So, after the SP gives his suggestion a final decision will be taken in this regard”

Police forces were today withdrawn from Nuagaon and Gadakujang area for the briefing and so land acquisition has also been stopped at these two panchayats, Jena informed

At the briefing, the district SP, S Debadatta Kar interacted with police forces about the security arrangement at Dhinkia and Gobindpur.

He gave tips to the police officials about their position at different points at Dhinkia and Gobindpur and also explained about the strategies and plans to maintain law and order during operation.

On the other hand, uneasy calm prevailed at Gobindpur before the start of land acquisition

Abhya Sahu, leader of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the organization spearheading the anti-Posco movement, united thousands of villagers including women and children at Gobindpur and advised them to vacate their villages to keep strict vigil on the outskirts of Gobindpur to oppose the land acquisition work at any cost.

Meanwhile, thousands of women and children have congregated on the outskirts of Gobindpur with arms, lathis and other weapons to counter the police forces during operation.