A group of social activists accompanied by a few lawyers visited trouble-torn Dhinkia village on Wednesday for conducting a spot assessment of the police and civilian clash that occurred on January 14.
The team led by Orissa High Court lawyer Khirod Rout, Samajadabadi Party State president Rabi Behera and Ambedkar Lohia Bichar Mancha leader Sangram Mallick reached Dhinkia village on Wednesday noon and met the affected villagers.
After five days' gap, the villagers converged at the local Phulakahi temple, the epi center of anti-JSW agitation, and narrated the harrowing experience of how police brutally assaulted them when they were agitating against the JSW betel vine demolitions.
A few villagers had pleaded before the team that the police had unleashed a reign of terror in the area. Many villagers have absconded from home fearing arrest by police.
Although the administration has assured that no betel vine demolition would be done without their consent, the company people and their agents are pressurising the villagers to sacrifice their land to the JSW. "We want justice and safety of our life," the villagers told.
The visiting team toured families who were injured during the police attack and inquired about their health conditions. Later, they assured the frightened villagers that two PILs have been filed in the Orissa HC. "Hearing for the petitions are likely on Thursday. So, wait for the court order," the team leaders said.
