POSCO officials held back by PPSS women activists in Orissa

Report by Amarnath Parida; Jagatsinghpur: Hundreds of women activists of Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti protested the entry of Posco officials to proposed Posco site at Balitutha in which officials have returned back due to fear of hostage and assault on Tuesday.

Women groups under the banner of PPSS led by Manorama Khatua have been demonstrated 24 hours mass dharana since last 26th January to protest Posco steel project at Balitutha, entry spot to proposed Posco site. They also threatened not to allow the Posco, police and district officials into proposed Posco site to expedite land acquisition process and other welfare activities. They have been intensifying their stir in democratic manner at Balitutha so that neither police nor district government officials have yet entered into Posco site due to stiff resistance by anti Posco activists.

Challenging the PPSS, five Posco officials including general manager of Kujang Posco office Mr S.N.Singh, Biranchi Swain, Basant Jena and two others forcibly attempted to enter into Posco site on Tuesday. Later, hundreds of women protested their entry at Balitutha and threatened to keep them hostage if they would attempt to enter into Posco site. Even women also threatened to wear sindur, bracelet if they would not return back from the spot. After threat of women group, Posco officials left the place immediately from Balitutha area. Women leader Mr Manorama Khatua has expressed that they have determined not to allow any Posco and police, district officials unless their demands cancellation of Posco project is not being fulfilled.

PPSS leader cum Panchyat  Samiti member Mr Prakash Jena has expressed that Posco officials are forcibly entering into Posco site to lodge false case against agitators so he has warned ‘’PPSS would intensify their stir at Balitutha on democratic manner and no pressure and planning to lodge false case to disturb their agitation would not at all success. IIC Kujang police station Mr Gupteswar Bhoi expressed that no one has yet lodged an FIR about this matter in police station.