United Action Committee, a pro-Posco outfit, has sought police protection for its members after receiving threats from Maoists for supporting the proposed steel project of the South Korean company near Paradip.
UAC secretary Nirvya Samantray met Jgatsinghpur district collector Narayan Chandra Jena today in this regard.
Meanwhile, UAC members’ and elected representatives of Nuagaon and Gadkujang who allegedly received Maoist threat letters have lodged an FIR with the Kujang police on the matter.
Sources said, working president of UAC Dhirendra Pallei, panchyat samiti member of Nuagaon Saumnedra Nayak, sarpanch of Gadakujang Nakula Sahu and another UAC member Jeevanlal Behera of Gadakujang village had received letters purportedly sent by Communist Party of India (Maoist). The letters bearing the symbol of the ultra-Left party were delivered to them through the local post office.
The content of the letter warned these local leaders to oppose the Posco project for the safeguard of the land and livelihood of poor and innocent people living in the project site. It threatened them of dire consequence if they supported the project.
Meanwhile, both UAC members and elected representatives of Nuagaon and Gadakujang lodged an FIR with the Kujang police following which a case has been registered under section 506 and 507 of Indian Penal Code. Preliminary investigations revealed that two letters have been posted from Kujang post office while two other letters were posted from a post office in Cuttack town on 6th and 7th July. Police suspected the letters, written by hand in red and black ink, may be the handiwork of some mischief mongers belonging to the anti-Posco camp.
Sarpanch of Gadakujang, Nakula Sahu said “it could be the handiwork of some mischief mongers who have sent these letters in the name of Maoists to create fear psychosis among the Posco supporters and paralyse the ongoing work on the project. But we are determined to support the Posco project for the socio economic development of our area”.
“We are looking into the veracity and genuineness of the letters. The forensic and hand-writing experts have been pressed into service to ascertain whether the letters had any Maoist link.,” said IIC of Kujang police station Gupteswer Bhoi.
The district collector NC Jena said, he has assured the UAC members to provide protection after discussion with the superintendent of police and exuded confidence that such tricks would not affect the Posco project work.
