Anti POSCO agitators assault forest officials

Kendrapada, Sep 15 (UNI) Villagers opposing the South Korea major POSCO Steel Plant have attacked the forest officials while they were returning from forest area, close to the POSCO site.

According to Divisional Forest Officer of Rajanagar Mangrove Forest (Wildlife) Division Ajaya Kumar Jena a team of forest officials, led by him, were returning from Bhuinpal forest bit under Bhitarkanika National Park on Wednesday last when hundreds of anti- POSCO agitators gheraoed the forest jeep and attacked a couple of forest officials.

He said the injured forest officials were rushed to the Kujanaga Primary Health Centre.

The DFO alleged that the anti-POSCO agitators snatched away Rs 10,000, a digital camera and two mobiles from the forest officials during the attack.

An FIR has been lodged in the Kujanga police station against the anti-POSCO villagers of Gadakujanga. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

When contacted Anti-POSCO agitators' leader Abhaya Sahu said since the forest officials entered the POSCO site without any intimation, they have suspected them as government officials engaged in survey work for the POSCO site.

The irate villagers, he said, gheraoed the forest officials without cross checking their identity and denied the allegations that their belongings were looted by the anti-POSCO agitators.

UNI XC DP KK AB 1742