BJP demands judicial probe into Keonjhar police-mob clash

BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Sunday demanded judicial probe into the violent clash between the police and villagers of Belabahali in Keonjhar district over construction of a proposed bridge on the Kosei River.

Briefing mediapersons here, party’s State president KV Singh Deo said the State Government has created a fear psychosis in the village by deploying police personnel, disrupting power supply and arresting innocents to suppress the movement against construction of bridge at the wrong place. “Due to the police cordon, people are living with fear after the violence,” he added. 

Singh Deo said a 12-member delegation led by him had visited the village and discussed with them about various problems they face after the police-mob clash. The BJP leader alleged that the male police have forcefully arrested seven women with children below one year. Even the police have arrested the persons who meet their kin in the jail, he added.  

“As per the people’s design for bridge, this is 240 metre, at an angle of 60 degree, and will have minimum impact on the inhabitation downstream. However, the design proposed by the State Government includes 360 metre, is at an angle of 35 degree to the bank and will have maximum impact on habitation downstream as the torrential water will directly hit the bank,” said Singh Deo, adding, “The Government design also includes sand filling of over 1 km of river bed approaching the bridge, which is highly impracticable.”

Quoting the people’s ideas, Singh Deo said, the Government could save Rs 12 crore if it goes with the designs of villagers. “Why the State Government proposed a 360-metre long bridge on the river instead of going for a 240-metre long,” asked the BJP leader, adding, “Is it a plan to give huge profit to the contractor?”   

Singh Deo alleged that the arrest and other related issues were designed by the State Government under the active supervision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The same Chief Minister, who had protested the Land Acquisition Bill, arrested 113 villagers including 63 women in nighttime for opposing a anti-people decision, he observed.     

He said his party would give full support to the villagers and would take up the matter of the realignment of the bridge with the Shipping Ministry at the Centre. “If the people’s legitimate demands are not met, the party will resort to Padyatra from Belabahali to Bhubaneswar,” he said.