On Friday, over 1,000 land losers came in a huge rally from Mahima Tungi Chhak in Kamakhyanagar led by Debashisha Hota under the banner of Bhusal Area Illegal Mines Khyatigrastha Praja Sangharsha Samiti and handed over a four-point charter of demands to the Kamakhyanagar Deputy Collector.
They demanded an immediate halt to illegal mining and road work over Damsal canal at Asurabandha in Bhuban tehsil, action against attackers of innocent farmers, drop all false cases against victims in Bhuban Police Station and file case against BJP leader Satrughna Jena who at first organized an attack on innocent farmers and got false cases filed against the farmers.
They threatened to launch protest at a massive scale if the demands were not fulfilled within May 13.
Here it is noteworthy that during May 7-8, thousands of villagers of Bhushal panchayat of Bhuban block had complained before the local Tehsildar and the Dhenkanal Collector against illegal mining work at Asurabandha in Bhuban. These authorities had assured them of compensation against land. However, a few days later, some goons had attacked the villagers and warned them of dire consequence if they did not refrain from protesting the mining project.