Tension prevailed in the Posco project site in Orissa as the irate villagers on Thursday detained two officials, one from Posco and another staff of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco), who had gone to Noliasahi in Gadakujang panchayat for cutting of tress on the acquired land.
They were later released after being held captive for about four hours.
The officials, who had gone to the village without the knowledge of the district administration, were accused of paying less compensation to the beneficiaries.
Though they were manhandled by some village women, no harm was caused to them, said Gadakujang sarpanch Nakula Sahu.
It may be noted thousands of youths and women of Nuagaon and Gadakujang pachayats have intensified their stir demanding fulfillment of their six point chatter of demands and blocked the road at Gadakujang from yesterday preventing the entry of district and police officials.
Apart from opposing felling of trees on environment ground, the villagers have expressed their doubt over fulfillment of their demands following the recent transfer of Revenue Divisional Commissioner, central range.
They also questioned logic of land acquisition when the MoU with Posco has already expired for over a year now.
The villagers demanded immediate release of pending wages to nearly 1400 unemployed youths, who were working under a construction agency at the site.
In the wake of stiff resistance, the Jagatsinghpur district administration has stopped the felling of trees in Nuagaon on Thursday to avert any untoward incidence in project site.
