BHUBANESWAR: Sandwiched between the agitations by pro and anti-Posco activists, the Government has decided to tread cautiously but is determined to disperse the agitators. As the first step and with a stern message after a lull of more than two weeks, the State Government on Monday redeployed forces at the project site and declared use of children in the anti-Posco campaign as illegal. The agitators were also told to vacate the place. The Government had withdrawn forces from Gobindpur __ the entry point to Dhinkia __ after the anti-Posco activists formed a three-layer ring with women and children at the front to prevent entry of police and administration. Even though there has been no formal announcement by the Government, sources said land acquisition, which was suspended for a temporary period, will be resumed soon. Police have asked the agitators to clear the road to enable security forces and administrative officials to enter Dhinkia area. The activists have been warned that preventing Government officials from performing their duty is illegal. Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik told mediapersons that use of children in agitation is illegal. However, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai said nobody forced children to participate in the agitation. They have joined the “dharna” as their parents are taking part in the agitation. The CPI has described the Government decision as undemocratic. The Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) too dubbed the Government’s move as undemocratic and vulgar display of force. “Our people are democratically protesting against the forcible land acquisition for Posco at Gobindpur village border,” a PPSS office-bearer said. Meanwhile, redeployment of forces has triggered fresh tension at the dharna site. Police, through public announcement system, asked the agitators to vacate the place and stop using children as “shield”. While the anti-project groups have stepped up their activities, the administration was forced to halt the ongoing work at Polang area for the second day at the project site in the face of agitation by pro-Posco people.Slogan-shouting youths, women and children marched to Noliasahi-Polang area in Nuagaon panchayat where the boundary wall and rehabilitation colony were being built and demanded halting of work.
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