Tension in Posco area as school kids join stir

PARADIP/ODISHA: School children took centre stage at the anti-Posco agitation today in the proposed plant site in Jagatsinghpur district as Odisha government renewed its land acquisition drive for the fourth consecutive day.

As the government began the land acquisition drive for the day amid heavy police deployment, hundreds of school kids abstained from classes and joined the anti-Posco agitation demanding immediate withdrawal of police force from the area.

"We have not asked the children to come here. Their parents send them to the agitation," said Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti ( PPSS) president Abhay Sahu, who has been sitting on a hunger strike since yesterday opposing the alleged forcible land acquisition.

PPSS, a CPI-backed agrarian outfit, had been opposing the Rs 52,000-crore Posco project since the South Korean steel major signed an agreement with the Odisha government on June 21, 2005.

All schools in Dhinikia, Patana and Gobindpur villages wore an empty look as the children joined the stir before arrival of CPI National Secretary D Raja.

The children took out a procession shouting slogans against government and Posco from Patana village to Gobindpur- Mangala Chhak, where about 300 police personnel were camped since Sunday.

Besides children, women also participated in the anti- Posco agitation which has entered a decisive phase. "We are ready to sacrifice lives for protection of our land and house," PPSS women wing chief Manorama Khatua said.