Jagatsinghpur: Six persons, including a former panchayat member, arrested after violent clashes between villagers and police at Dhinkia, the site of JSW’s proposed steel plant, were forwarded to court on Saturday.
The six are Debendra Swain, a former panchayat member who has been campaigning against the project, Murali Sahu, Narendra Mohanty, Tirtha Mallik and Manguli Kandi. There are allegations that Swain was behind the attack on the police.
On Friday, police and villagers clashed after the latter opposed the demolition of betel vines. The villagers alleged the district administration was carrying out the demolition of betel vines forcibly.
A clash ensued between the villagers, including women, and the police. As the situation escalated with villagers turning violent, the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. Several villagers and policemen were injured in the clashes.
Tension prevailed in the area on Saturday. A large contingent of policemen has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. According to reports, villagers have confined themselves inside their houses and not venturing out.
