CPI leader and MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai was arrested on Saturday while trying to enter the proposed steel plant site of Posco-India ahead of an anti-project rally.
"Tarai was arrested as a preventive measure to avoid any law and order problem as a large number of anti-project activists have gathered in the area," Superintendent of Police Jagatsinghpur Devdutta Singh said.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed around Balitutha, entry point to the proposed plant site where anti-Posco activists have been staging a dharna, he said adding, the police personnel in strength have been deployed in the area.
About 1500 police have been mobilised as part of Orissa government's efforts to begin forest survey and land acquisition in the plant site, police said.
Terming his arrest as "undemocratic", Tarai said he was proceeding to learn about people's problem area which falls under his constituency, Jagatsinghpur. As unrest brewed in the area following Tarai's arrest, CPI state secretary Dibakar N
ayaka accused the administration and police of acting in "undemocratic and arbitrary" manner to suppress people's voicice. He said CPI would launch a vigorous state-wide agitation against it.
Seeking withdrawal of force from Balitutha, CPI-backed Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) continued its dharna since January 26 and planned a rally to he addresssed by CPI leader A B Bardhan on May 19.
The CPI state secretary said PPSS activists have been agitating and holding dharna at Balitutha in a peaceful manner but the government planned to remove them by applying force.
A PPSS leader said the Samiti activists had drawn a "laxman rekha" at Balitutha prevent police and government officials from entering into the area as the local residents were against setting up of any industry which would displace them and snatch away their source of livelihood.
Taking a serious view of the method adopted by PPSS, a senior district official said it was highly inappropriate to obstruct and prevent government officials from discharging their duties and responsibilities. It is necessary to clear the area and efforts would be made to persuade and convince the activists to end their dharna peacfully, he said.
Apart from mobilising 1500 policemen, includign armed forces, the district administration had also moved some ambulances and fire tenders at Balitutha keeping in view possible disturbance in the area. PTI
