Expressing their opposition to greenfield steel plants proposed to be set up by Jindal and Bhusan business groups in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, tribal groups staged a protest today and resolved they would not allow "a repeat of Nandigram" in the state.Led by heads of about 30 villages in Potaka block, the tribals, including children and women, brandished bows and arrows and vehemently shouted slogans outside the deputy commissioner's office here.They demanded immediate cancellation of memoranda of undertstanding (MoUs) signed by the state government with prospective investors, immediate halt to the identification of lands for the proposed plants, proper arrangements for irrigation facilities, implementation of the Right To Information Act and action against officials "violating provisions."One of the protestors, Charoon Murmu of Majhi Paragana Mahal in Potka block claimed that tribal pockets of the district were under the Panchyat (Extension to Scheduled Area) Act of 1996 and the local administration could not forcibly acquire land without consulting village heads.
