Prohibitory orders clamped at Balitutha

Jagatsinghpur, Aug 9 (UNI) Anticipating a possible clash between anti and pro-POSCO supporters at a meeting venue in Balitutha, the District Administration has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr Pc at the venue.

Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Y K Jethua today said some untoward incidents might occur between activists of POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Samiti and POSCO supporters as both of them were observing Kranti Diwas at a single venue.

Sources said both anti-POSCO and pro-POSCO supporters had earlier decided to organise a meeting at Balitutha today by mobilising people in their support.

The district administration had already deployed 21 Sections of police in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Samiti, led by its president Abhaya Sahu, organised a meeting at Patana haat under Dhinkia Gram Panchayat to celebrate Kranti Diwas in their area.

Addressing supporters, Mr Sahu said they will not give any opportunity to the POSCO authorities to acquire even an inch of land for setting up mega steel plant in their area.

The villagers, he said, were determined not to allow any official to enter their villages and were prepared to face any consequence.

On the other hand, pro-POSCO leader Tamil Pradhan said at last the district administration had taken some steps against the anti-POSCO agitators by clamping Section 144 Cr Pc and debarred the anti-POSCO activists from organising meeting at Balitutha to mark the Kranti Diwas.

UNI