11 workers at POSCO plant site held captive

BHUBANESWAR: Eleven persons, hired to construct a wooden bridge in the proposed POSCO plant site, were being held captive for past five days, POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) claimed on Sunday.

"We have held ten workers and a driver, who were engaged by the rural development department for building a wooden bridge near the site for POSCO's proposed steel plant, as captive," near Paradip, PPSS President Abhaya Sahu told media over phone.

Though the police had no idea about the exact number of people detained by the activists, officials said negotiations were on with the captors to get them released.

"Efforts are on to ensure safe release of those held by PPSS activists... Talks are on. Though nobody approached us, we came to know of the detention of some people from certain sources," Superintendent of Police, Jagatsinghpur, Y K Jethwa told PTI. "We hope they will be freed soon".

Four senior officials of the steel company, including three South Koreans, were released yesterday following assurance by authorities not to allow POSCO officials to enter the area.

Sahu said the eleven persons, who belong to Salepur area in Cuttack district, had no links with POSCO and were engaged by the rural development department to build the bridge, aimed at providing easy access to officials of the steel giant to the proposed plant site.