Odisha: Mob thrashes villager, family for opposing steel project at Dhinkia

Paradip: Tension erupted at Dhinkia village of Jagatsinghpur district today when a group of villagers supporting the proposed JSW’s steel plant beat up a villager and his wife for opposing it. The violence occurred in presence of a five-member Advocates’ Committee and police officers at Dhinkia.

Reportedly, the supporters of the proposed JSW project thrashed Pradeep Satpathy, who has been opposing the proposed steel project, wife and his children in the middle of Dhinkia village road in presence of the Advocates’ Committee appointed by the Orissa High Court for an assessment of ground situation. The attackers even tore the dress of Pradeep Satpathy.

Wife of Satpathy alleged, “The police have arrested my family members after framing them false charges as we are opposing the proposed steel project. The police have also threatened us of dire consequences. Today, while a hearing before the Advocates’ Committee was going on, some villagers supporting the proposed JSW project attacked my husband and me.”

A member of the Advocates’ Committee refused to comment on the violence and said, “We will submit a report to the Orissa High Court while taking into account today’s incident.”

Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Abhayachandpur police station, Jeevan Prakash Jena, however, claimed the situation is under control while terming the tussle as a result of an argument during the hearing.

“One person has been injured and he has been provided the first-aid. Overall, there is no tension in the area,” Mishra said.

Villagers of Dhinkia, which has been epicentre of anti-steel project, had a clash with armed police in January 14, 2022, over land acquisition. Activists opposing the industrial project in the area alleged the Jagatsinghpur district administration had violated human rights to facilitate the project.

Apart from constituting the five-member Advocates’ Committee for assessment of ground situation, the Orissa High Court directed the committee to facilitate safe return of villagers to their respective homes.

A division bench comprising Orissa High Court Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar and Justice R. K. Pattanaik ordered Counsels Prasanta Kumar Jena, Omkar Devdas and Sukanta Kumar Dalai and Additional Government Advocates, Debakanta Mohanty and J. Katikia to visit Dhinkia on February 19 and file a joint report.

The villagers had fled Dhinkia fearing arrest on January 14 when they had a clash with armed police over acquisition of land for the proposed 13.2–mtpa capacity steel plant.

It is worth to mention Industrialist Sajjan Jindal–led JSW Group has proposed the Odisha government to set up the steel plant in area close to Dhinkia.