November 22, 2008

NHRC probing human rights violations at POSCO site

SNS reported that National Human Right Commission has initiated a preliminary probe into alleged violation of human rights of people living within the proposed POSCO steel plant site.

Mr Damodar Sarangi a special official of the NHRC visited the district yesterday and interacted with officials and few villagers. During his visit, he had a discussion with Jagatsinghpur district collector Mr Pramoda Kumar Meherda, SP Mr RK Sharma, additional district magistrate of Paradip Mr Dillip Mohanty, district rehabilitation officer Mr Surjeet Das, special land acquisition official Mr Nrusingh Swain. He also visited a few villages like Dhinikia, Govindpur, Nuagaon and Gadkujang and interacted with people belonging to both the pro and anti POSCO factions.

It is learnt that a Delhi based NGO had moved the NHRC in this regard while the Kujan Bar Association had also submitted a memorandum to the State Human Rights Commission.

Over the last 2 years resistance movements have resulted in innumerable clashes, ostracisation of villagers and abduction. Schools have been used as camps for policemen and also to hold meetings at the cost of education. Many have allegedly fled their village to safer places and are staying with relatives due to intermittent clashes between pro and anti POSCO groups.