BJP demands judicial probe into K'jhar police-mob clash

The BJP on Sunday demanded a judicial probe into the violent clash between the police and villagers of Belabahali in Keonjhar district over construction of a proposed bridge on river Kusei. Briefing mediapersons, party State president KV Singh Deo said the State Government has created a fear psychosis in village by deploying police, disrupting power supply and arresting innocent persons to suppress agitation against construction of bridge at wrong place. “Due to the police cordon, people are living with fear,” he said. 

Singh Deo said a 12-member party delegation led by him had visited the village on Saturday and discussed with residents about the problems they face after the clash with police. He alleged that the male police have forcefully arrested seven women with children below one year. Even the police have arrested the persons who met their kin in the jail, he said.  

“As per the people’s suggestion for the bridge, this is of 240 metre, at an angle of 60 degree, and will have minimum impact on the inhabitation downstream. However, the design proposed by the Government includes 360 metre, at an angle of 35 degree to the bank and will have maximum impact on habitation downstream as the torrential water will directly hit the bank,” said Singh Deo, adding, “The Government’s design also includes sand filling of over 1 km of river bed approaching the bridge, which is highly impracticable.”

Singh Deo said the Government could save Rs 12 crore if it goes with the designs of villagers. “Why has the Government proposed a 360-metre-long bridge on the river instead of going in for a 240-metre-long one,” asked he, remarking, “Is it a plan to give huge profit to the contractorIJ”  Singh Deo alleged that the arrest of villagers and other related issues were designed by the Government under active supervision of CM Naveen Patnaik. The same Chief Minister who had protested the land Acquisition Bill arrested 113 villagers including 63 women in nighttime for opposing an anti-people decision, he observed.     

He said his party would give full support to the villagers and take up the issue of the realignment of the bridge with the concerned Union Ministry. “If the people’s legitimate demands are not met, the party will resort to a Padyatra from Belabahali to Bhubaneswar,” he said.