In their last-ditch efforts to the force the administration officials and police away from the area, women activists Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) took to the unusual step of a ‘nude rally’ on Thursday. At least 25 persons, including 13 women, were injured in police lathicharge at Gobindpur when the protestors took out the rally.
This comes a day after the administration decided not to go ahead with the land acquisition at Patana village where a bomb blast had claimed three lives of anti-Posco activists. While land acquisition stopped, police forces continued to be deployed in Gobindpur.
Trouble began when the agitating women tried to set fire to a police camp at Mangala Chhack in Gobindpur, which is located within three km radius where prohibitory orders were clamped since Saturday after the blast. Even as police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the mob, the women allegedly assaulted some cops leading to the lathi-charge. Twenty-five persons were injured including women and SUCI workers.
Collector Satya Kumar Mallick said the protestors attempted to burn down a police camp at Mangala Chhack which led police to resort to mild lathi-charge.
Meanwhile, women leaders of PPSS threatened to continue their ‘nude’ protests till police forces are withdrawn from Gobindapur and land acquisition is completely stopped. Apparently, to stop police from entering the neighbouring Dhinkia, PPSS activists have sealed all roads leading to the village and women members are guarding the gates round-the-clock. SP Satyabrat Bhoi said the situation has been brought under control and five platoons of police force have been deployed in Gobindapur village to avoid any untoward situation.