Police detained eight tribals for opposing the construction of Sukinda-Anugul -Duburi railway line at villages Rangahudi, Bagharaisahi and Duburi under Kalinganagar police station in Jajpur district on Tuesday.
Around 200 tribals, including a good number of women, came to the construction site and tried to stop the works, but the police stopped them, said IIC Rajendra Patnaik.
The agitators alleged that the authorities have started construction of railway line on their land without their consent.
The detainees were identified as Kailash Mohant ( 63), Sarat Mohant (46) Raju Mohant ( 51) , Gajendra Mohant (64) Amar Mohant (45), Dhaneswar Mohant(40), Gopal Mohant (60) and Dayanidhi Mohant(38)
Five platoons of police force have been deployed to check any untoward incident, informed the IIC.
When constructed, the 102-km Anugul- Sukinda railway line would connect coal fields in Talcher to Banspani-Sukinda line. Villagers of Duburi, Rangahudi and Bagharasahi have no right, title interest or possession over the land as the railway authorities are building railway line over the Government land, said district Collector Ranjan Kumar Das.