The State Government is planning to withdraw about 100 cases against anti-Posco villagers and conduct meetings with the anti-industry group Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti to restore normalcy in the area.
District Magistrate Satya Kumar Mallick has been empowered by the Government, under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), to recommend withdrawal of cases against anti-Posco villagers. Paradip SDPO Bhabani Sankar Mishra said a total of 132 cases related to Posco violence involving 1460 persons have been registered.
Of these, 100 cases are related to minor issues while rest 32 are major criminal offences. “Efforts are on to withdraw 100 cases related to minor issues involving 1100 persons. The move will help in restoring normalcy in Dhinkia, Gobindapur and other villages of Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchyats,” the SDPO added.
The decision has, however, not gone down well with the pro-Posco villagers.
Meanwhile, Jagatsinghpur district administration on Sunday began land acquisition process for the proposed Posco steel plant in Gobindapur, over a month after it was stalled following protests by locals.
Collector Satya Kumar Mallick said the land and betel vines of those villagers were acquired who had expressed willingness to give up their land for the project. “Land acquisition will continue on Monday as well,” he said. Fifteen betel vines were measured and two of them were dismantled in presence of police.
The police, IDCO and district administration officials along with a group of villagers led by Kujang Tehsildar Rabindranath Kanhar were engaged in the process.
Land acquisition for Posco steel project had to be stopped on March 6 following protests by anti-Posco villagers.