38 villagers protesting dam construction arrested

Rourkela, Sep 13 (UNI) Altogether 38 people, including eight women, were arrested by the Bonai police and forwarded to the court yesterday for protesting the construction of a Dam in their area.

Police said the demonstrators were opposing the construction of Rukuda Dam, a project conceived during 1993 at an estimated cost of Rs 95.18 crore on the pretext that they would be displaced.

Though the villagers of Musaposh, Kantabahal and part of Bandhuin, had received the compensation, the Katuridua villagers had refused to take compensation.

The villagers of Katuridua armed with lathis, bows and arrows arrived at the spot to attack when construction of Dam project commenced.

Sensing trouble, police present at the spot took the protesters under preventive arrest and forwarded them to the court, Sundargarh Superintendent of Police S.Saini said.

Meanwhile, a cutting across the party lines, people from 73 villages had decided to bring out a massive rally tomorrow in support of the construction of the dam project, sources said.

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