The villagers of trouble-torn Dhinkia area in Jagatsinghpur district are gearing up not to allow any further demolition if the State Government begins land acquisition process for the Posco project after the end of the Assembly session on April six.
Since Friday, more than 200 women of Gobindpur are continuing daily protests against the moves of the Government and Posco in their village. The villagers are preparing for a mass protest apprehending a police crackdown after the Budget session of the Assembly ends.
Meanwhile, the villagers have re-erected bamboo and wooden barricades at Gobindpur, Patana, Dhinkia and Trilochanpur villages under Dhinkia gram panchayat to prevent Government officials and police from entering the Posco project site.
Women leader Manorama Khatua said they would go to any extent to ensure stopping of the steel project on their land. Women would henceforth guard the entry gate to Dhinkia along with their male counterparts.
According to Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) spokesperson Prashant Paikaray, presence of policemen is a cause of tension for women at Gobindpur. "Over last two months, this region has just become a site littered with paramilitary camps with more than 12 paramilitary platoons," he said.
"We have also decided to launch hunger-strike from April 3 if the Government does not withdraw the forces," PPSS members added.