Jagatsinghpur, Dec 15 (ANI): One man was killed and 15 others injured following a clash between anti-Posco activists and workers of a construction company in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur District.
The incident occurred when about 1500 anti-Posco villagers demonstrating against the construction of the coastal sea road came face-to-face with workers and supporters of Paradip Paribahan, the construction company building the road.
The villagers are protesting against the construction of the road, as it would link Posco's proposed12 billion-dollar plant with its captive port.
Some activists said workers of the construction company deliberately disrupted their peaceful protest by throwing a bomb.
"Some anti-social elements came here at morning and started threatening us when we assembled to protest against the coastal roads. We were also joined by Congress and CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) leaders. We were sitting peacefully, when they threw a bomb at us. They later continued to threaten us," said Narayan Reddy, an activist.
Posco, the world's fourth largest steel producer, signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Orissa Government in June 2005 to set up a 12 million tonne per annum Greenfield plant. The MoU expired in June 2010.
Though it is yet to be renewed, the state government has continued to work with Posco.
Orissa's Minister for Mines, Raghunath Mohanty said the incident would be investigated and assured that the culprits would be brought to justice. (ANI)
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