An RPDAC meeting turned ugly on Saturday when police resorted to lathi-charge on the villagers who created law and order situation by jostling to meet Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram to vent their grievances. In response, the angry villagers pelted stones causing damage to the vehicle of the Minister.
Source said the meeting was convened at the Vikash Bhawan, Sundargarh on Saturday morning at 10.30 am on the issue of setting up an ultra mega power plant at Sadar Block. The project is proposed to come up over an area of 2,731.58 acres of land in Kandabahal village of Kiroi panchayat, Kupasingh and Rupidihi villages of lankahudu panchayat and some area of Bedabahal panchayat. Accordingly earlier, the Palli Sabha and Gram Sabha were held.
But the affected villagers were rigid on compensation on PESA Act and implementation of R&R policy, 2014. They had been repeatedly urging the district Collector and project management for fair rehabilitation, but in vain. On Saturday, the villagers had gathered to reiterate their demands before Oram. But instead of listening to the villagers, Oram straightaway got into the meeting hall forcing the villagers to enter into the hall. When police prevented them, they tried to jump over the compound wall. In order to disperse the mob, the police applied lathi charge and in return, the villagers pelted stones.
Sources said in the face-off between the police and the public, a boy and the Sadar Police Station IIC sustained minor injury.