Police excesses alleged as Odisha government pushes land acquisition for Jindal-POSCO

By A Representative 

The civil rights group Centre for Protection of Democratic Rights and Secularism (CPDRS) has alleged large-scale police repression in 12 villages of Jamunaposi and Chemena panchayats in Patna block of Keonjhar district, where the Odisha government is pursuing the acquisition of 2,466 acres of land for transfer to the Jindal-POSCO company.

Addressing a press conference in Cuttack, CPDRS representatives said the proposed acquisition has triggered widespread unrest among villagers, who fear displacement from fertile agricultural land. They recalled that in 2006 the government had signed an MoU with ArcelorMittal to acquire around 10,000 acres in the same area, a move that was abandoned following sustained local resistance. Despite the availability of vacant land elsewhere in the district for industrial use, the organisation alleged that the administration is proceeding with forced acquisition by ignoring public opposition and resorting to coercive measures.

CPDRS claimed that heavy police deployment in the area has severely disrupted normal life, restricting villagers’ movement and creating an atmosphere of fear. The organisation alleged that false cases have been filed against leaders opposing the acquisition and that several activists have been illegally detained. It cited the late-night arrest of Benudhar Sardar, secretary of the Jindal-POSCO Resistance Forum, and his brother Bhubanananda Sardar, allegedly after police broke a window of their house, along with the detention of four other activists.

The organisation further alleged that on December 10, senior Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Satyaban and farmer leaders Sadashib Das, Rajendra Barma and Ranjit Pradhan were abducted and assaulted by miscreants while returning from Jamunaposi village after meeting affected residents. According to CPDRS, the group was taken to Turumunga police station, where they were verbally abused for nearly three hours, threatened with death and had their mobile phones taken away, all in the presence of police personnel. The organisation accused the officer-in-charge of Turumunga police station of encouraging the assailants instead of acting on what it described as serious criminal offences.

CPDRS also alleged that on December 12, police turned Bhringarajposi village in Chemena panchayat into a temporary camp, prevented villagers from attending a public hearing and facilitated what it termed a “farce” hearing process. It warned that similar actions were being planned in other villages as the administration intensified efforts to push through the land acquisition.

Condemning what it described as undemocratic and illegal actions, CPDRS demanded an immediate end to police intimidation in the area, the unconditional release of all detained activists, strict action against the Turumunga officer-in-charge, and legal proceedings against those accused of abducting and assaulting the farmer leaders. The organisation announced that it would submit a demand letter to the Director General of Police on December 15 at 11.30 am.

The press conference was attended by senior Gandhian leader Krishna Mahanti, Odisha High Court advocates Shishir Das, Kshirod Raut, Pratap Mishra and Ravi Ray, academy editor Kshirod Mahapatra, Hind Mazdoor Sabha leader Lakshmipriya Mahanti, convener of the Farmer and Farming Salvation Campaign Yugal Nayak, Dr Biswajit of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, and other activists.