Tension ran high in trouble torn Gobindapur village of Jagatsinghpur district on Friday after miscreants hurled bombs at Balidipha and irate villagers ransacked the poclain machine engaged for digging the soil to construct boundary wall of the proposed Posco project site.
On Thursday, villagers led by CPI leader Narayan Reddy took out a rally and staged dharna in Gobindapur village protesting the project work and requested the labourers of one contract agency Utkal Manufacturing and Services Ltd (UMSL), a constituent of IMFA Group. UMSL labourers had assured the villagers of stopping the work and even filled up the 100-metre ditch with sand and left the village.
But on Friday when the UMSL labourers started the work at Balidipha of Gobindapur village, the villagers attempted to attack them. However, the labourers managed to flee leaving behind the poclain machine.
Meanwhile, the villagers have threatened to intensify their agitation if Posco related work continues without giving compensation and subsistence allowance to the betel vine workers.
IIC of Abhayachandpur police station Anirudha Routray admitted that anti-Posco activists have ransacked the poclain machine but police have not registered any case as no complaint has been filed.
The bomb hurling incident added to the tension. Village chief of Gobindapur Prafulla Mohanty said despite deployment of police forces, miscreants hurled bombs.
Meanwhile, the villagers alleged that anti-Posco activists have stocked bombs in their houses to create law and order problem in the village.
Sub-divisional Police Officer, Paradip Bhabani Sankar Mishra said, “No casualty has been reported in the bomb hurling incident. Police have rushed to the spot.”