Statesman News Service reported that Mr Prakash Jena Anti POSCO leader and secretary of the POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Samiti, who was elected as the panchayat samiti member in Dhinkia panchyat recently, has been released from jail after 8 months today.

PPSS held a massive rally to greet Mr Jena. The procession was led by activists of PPSS from Dhinkia and Balitutha panchayat. Overwhelmed by the warm reception Mr Jena declared that “PPSS will continue to fight for the land rights of the people and will not allow POSCO to enter Dhinkia panchayat, who have given their blood for their land. Not an inch of land will be given to POSCO.”

The district police had arrested Mr Prakash Jena and 5 other PPSS activists 8 months ago. They had also arrested the PPSS president Mr Abhaya Sahoo earlier. In fact, after Mr Sahoo’s arrest, it was Mr Jena who had been leading the anti POSCO movement. Mr Sahoo continues to languish in jail.

Mr Jena, on his part, had contested the recently held panchayat elections from jail and was successful in defeating his nearest rival by a margin of 282 votes after re-polling, which was held on May 5th. Kujang police had registered 16 cases against Mr Jena. Today the judicial magistrate, first class, granted bail to Mr Jena.

(Sourced from Statesman News Service)