Jagatsinghpur: Tension prevailed in the JSW’s proposed plant site at Dhinkia of the district due to a scuffle between the villagers supporting the project and those against it during the visit of the committee formed by the Orissa High Court on Saturday.
Dhinkia sarpanch Kishore Kumar Parida welcomed the five members of the committee on their arrival and submitted a memorandum to them stating the villagers of the panchayat were in favour of the project as it would strengthen their economic condition by providing employment to their children.
Then the committee members, comprising three advocates representing the petitioners and two government lawyers, went to Phulakhai temple in the village to hold the meeting to hear the petitioners against the project. While the meeting was going peacefully, sister of Debendra Swain, the leader of those opposing the project, and other villagers led by social activist Manas Ranjan Kar proceeded towards the venue.
The pro-project villagers opposed them on the ground that they were outsiders and were trying to incite trouble in their village. Stating that they would sort out their problems related to the project with the company and government officials, the project supporters forcibly prevented the people accompanying Swain and Kar from going to the temple.
It led to a scuffle between the two groups leading to violent attack on each other. Several people from both sides were injured in the attack.
However, before the clash could escalate, the police present at the place dispersed the warring groups and brought the situation under control. The police also admitted the temple priest, who was seriously injured, in the hospital.
On being informed additional SP of Paradip Nimain Charan Sethi and additional tehsildar of Ersama Choudhury Prangyananda Das along with additional police forces rushed to the spot.
Sethi told the media persons that it was a minor scuffle between two groups of villagers and the police were investigating into the incident. “There is no law and order problem and everything is under control now,” he added.
“We have noted whatever happened at the meeting. We will mention the day’s incident in our report to the High Court. Since it is a court hearing, more details cannot be divulged,” said a member of the committee.
It may be noted that some villagers of Dhinkia opposing the proposed steel plant were engaged in a violent clash with police on January 14. The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the agitated villagers, resulting in injuries to some of them.
Later, around 40 PILs were filed in the High Court with the allegation that the district administration had violated human rights to facilitate the project. The High Court had then formed the five-member committee to visit Dhinkia to assess the ground situation and submit its report.
