Anti-Posco agitators to cooperate for polling in Dhinkia area

Anti-Posco agitators today agreed to allow government officials and the police to enter Dhinkia village in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district to ensure smooth conduct of elections.
"We will not oppose the entry of government officials and police into Dhinkia village," said Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti Secretary Sisir Mohapatra after attending a meeting convened by the district administration.
The village is the epicentre of anti-Posco agitation and has around 2,000 voters.
District Collector S K Mallick said, "People have agreed to cooperate for the elections."
The district administration during 2009 elections could not set up a polling booth at the village due to opposition by the local people.

People did not turn up for voting as the polling booth was set up at another village.

The villagers, members of the PPSS and supporters who turned hostile later, however, informed the district administration that they would not allow company personnel or construction on the pretext of holding elections.
"We will not allow any construction work for the project unless our demands are fulfilled," said Tamil Pradhan, the leader of the pro-project group.
The district collector has assured the villagers that he would take up their grievances with the government immediately after Model Code of Conduct for the general elections is lifted.