Police tries to form peace committee to restore normalcy

PARADIP: A day after more than 12 people were injured in a clash between anti and pro-Posco groups near here, tension prevailed in the area on Monday even as police tried to form a peace committee to restore normalcy.
   
"The situation remained tense in the area which witnessed a pitched battle between two groups supporting and opposing the Posco project," police sources said.
   
Three of the 12 people injured in yesterday's violent clash, in which the rival groups used sharp edged weapons and sticks and indulging in stone pelting, were referred to SCB Medical College Hospital at Cuttack, they said.

According to eyewitnesses, one group held a blockade outside Nolia Sahi preventing villagers from moving out of the area, while members of another camp stopped people from entering Balitutha area.
   
In order to end the blockade and defuse tension, efforts were being made to constitute a peace committee comprising seniors of three panchayats of Nuagaon, Gada Kijang and Dhinkia, Additional Superintendent of Police R N Patra said.
   
While no complaint had been lodged with the police by either side, a close vigil was being maintained in the area to prevent any further flare up, he said.