Tension mounted at the proposed plant site of South Korean steel major POSCO as protesters, armed with weapons, took out a procession against the up-coming project, police said.
Hundreds of men, women and children under the banner of POSCO Pratirodh Sangam Samiti (PPSS), a CPI-backed body opposing establishment of the RS 52,000 crore project near here, marched through adjacent villages carrying, lathis, bows and arrows and spears.
The rally was followed by an oath taking ceremony in which nearly 500 people including women and children pledged to fight against the project till the “last blood.”
PPSS President Abhaya Sahu asked his cadres to fight the multi-national and vowed to “retaliate” the attack Thursday on its activists by “project supporters” at Dhinkia village.
“We will retaliate the attack on our supporters”, Sahu told PTI adding that the government should be held responsible for the eventualities at Dhinkia village.
Director General of Police (DGP) G C Nanda told PTI that the police force was prepared to face any situation.
He said the anti-project activists had held a march where young people were asked to display their acumen in archery.
“They had not displayed any fire arms as reported during the rally,” the DGP said.
To a query, the Central Range Inspector General of Police, (IG) S K Upadhaya said the police had been keeping a close watch on the movement of people at the proposed plant site.