The Hindu : Front Page : POSCO: 11 workers still held captive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 15, 2007
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POSCO: 11 workers still held captive

Special Correspondent

Stop work on bridge: activists

Four employees had been released on Saturday
Administration agrees to Sangram Samiti’s demand

BHUBANESWAR: Four employees of POSCO who were detained by anti-POSCO activists in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district on Saturday were released after a few hours, but the ordeal of 11 others detained by the protesters continued for the fourth day on Sunday.

Carpenters, drivers held

Ten carpenters and a driver who accompanied them were taken hostage on Thursday by villagers opposing the proposed 12 million tonne capacity steel project POSCO, when they went to build a wooden bridge near the site earmarked for the steel mill.

“The carpenters were sent to work by a contractor engaged by the Rural Development Department of the State government to build the bridge for which the money had been deposited by POSCO,” president of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti Abhay Sahu told The Hindu over the phone.

Safe entry

The bridge at Hadua village near Gadakunjang panchayat was to enable the safe entry of POSCO officials to the proposed site of the steel project, Mr. Sahu said.

The process for the release of the detained workers started on Sunday evening with the administration agreeing to the Sangram Samiti demand to stop work on the bridge, Mr. Sahu said.

Wood being taken back

Observing that the administration approached the Sangram Samiti for the release of the employees only on Sunday, Mr. Sahu said the authorities had started taking back the wood that was brought for the construction.

“If the Rural Development Department takes back the entire wood tonight [Sunday night], we will release the 11 persons tomorrow [Monday] morning,” the samiti president added.

Superintendent of Police of Jagatsinghpur Y.K. Jethwa said that they had discussed the safe release of the 11 persons. “I am hopeful that the Sangram Samiti will release them on Sunday night or latest by Monday morning,” Mr. Sahu said.

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