Bhubaneswar: With armed securitymen
guarding the entry point to Posco`s proposed plant site near
Paradip round-the-clock, several persons injured in the clash
with police on Saturday chose to treat under the guidance of
quacks instead of going to hospitals.
This was the situation at three gram panchayats where
the South Korean steel major plans to set up a 12 MTPA mega
steel mill at an investment of Rs 52,000 crore.
About 150 people, mostly elderly men and women, were
injured as they either attempted to run away when police
lobbed teargas or used baton, Posco Pratirodh Sangram
Samiti (PPSS) president Abhay Sahu claimed.
"Most of the injured are being treated by village
quacks as they are scared to go out fearing assault by
police," he said.
During an operation by police at Balitutha, the entry
point to the proposed plant site villages, a large number of
people were injured as the police fired rubber bullets, used
batons and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
"The administration is ready to provide treatment to
people if they allow doctors to enter the villages. PPSS
activists prevent entry of government officials into the
proposed plant site villages," Jagatsinghpur district
collector N C Jena told PTI.
While only six shopkeepers of Balitutha injured in
police action, underwent treatment at a nearby hospital, none
of the locals went to any hospital, sources said.
-PTI
