Zee News - Villagers at Posco site refuse to meet Medha Patkar

Zee News - Villagers at Posco site refuse to meet Medha Patkar

Villagers at Posco site refuse to meet Medha Patkar
Nuagaon, Dec 11: Villagers around the proposed Posco plant site in Jagathsingpur district on Tuesday refused to meet social activist Medha Patkar who immediately cancelled her programme and left for an undisclosed destination.

"I am sure the villagers are afraid to talk to me as they have been terrorised by Posco supporters," Patkar, who arrived at the site near Paradip where lands are being acquired for setting up a 12 MTA thermal steel plant.

With the villagers, who had earlier invited and even dined with the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader, remaining indoors, Patkar abandoned her plan to spend the night there and left for an undisclosed destination.

Patkar said she was trying to convince people that the Posco project would ruin them.

"Looking at their faces one can clearly see fear. People understand my words. But they are mute because of the restrictions imposed by the village committee comprising the pro-company group," she said.

Patkar who rushed to Kujang area from Nandigram this morning along with a few supporters, hoped that people would soon overcome their fear and raise their voices against the project.

While entering the village, which comprises nearly 1180 families, Patkar met a group of people who claimed to be supporters of the Posco project and urged her not to proceed as this could lead to tension.

Yesterday, a ten-member team led by a retired judge of Orissa High Court had claimed that the state government is perpetuating terror in the sea-side villages around the proposed plant site.

"We were told that the police is helping the hired goons and anti-socials to perpetuate terror," Judge Choudhury P K Mishra said.

Bureau Report