Anti-Posco protestors take out rally, land acquisition on

PARADIP (ODISHA): Land acquisition for the Posco steel plant continued for the third day today in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district as anti-Posco as protestors took out a rally defying prohibitory orders carrying bodies of three activists.

A large number of people, including women, children and leaders of five political parties took the three bodies, allegedly killed during making of bombs, in a procession through Patana area where prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC had been clamped.

Superintendent of Police Satyabrat Bhoi said police force deployed in the area refrained from stopping the rally as a mark of respect to the sentiments of the villagers as they were carrying the bodies for cremation.

"However, the police personnel kept a vigil in order to prevent any law and order breakdown," said a police officer.

While police maintained that the three anti-Posco activists died during preparation of bombs on Saturday, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) and its sympathisers alleged that bomb attack by project supporters claimed their lives.

After cremating the bodies, the anti-Posco brigade held a meeting which was addressed by leaders of left parties, Samajwadi Party and PPSS leader Abhay Sahu who demanded immediate halt to land acquisition for the steel plant.

They also demanded at least Rs 20 lakh compensation to families of each deceased and thorough probe into the blast.