Cong for release of locals into cement plant case

Raipur, April 10, 2013

Congress has demanded unconditional release of locals into JK Laxmi cement plant incident pointing that the event occurred due to administration’s negligence and government extending protection to land mafias. The party said interest of local people was also ignored. 

 “In light of chief minister Raman Singh’s statement that outsiders are responsible for the incident, there should be no reason to keep the locals in custody. Hence we demand instant release of all the locals,” said state Congress chief Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey on Wednesday.

Questioning the way the police was handling the matter the duo asked how come low rank police officials detain the locals when the government had already assigned ADG-level officer to investigate into it. 

“The villagers were arrested from their homes late at night. During arrest, they were beaten-up severely. The cops did not even spare the females and misbehaved with them. This is sheer autocracy of the BJP government. It must tell on whose directives the cops are acting so vehemently” the duo said.

Quoting JK Laxmi Cement director Shailendra Chouksey’s remark that the company will not give jobs to the farmers whose lands have been acquired through brokers, the duo said the statement was rather a confirmation of reiteration of Bhadoura land scam.

“Now it is evident that the farmers’ lands for cement plant were purchased at randomly low rates by government-protected brokers. This has happened in Bhadoura and other places of the state where industries are being established,” they said.

They alleged that the lands for cement plant was diverted violating all the norms. “The company overtly flouted government’s Ceiling Act while purchasing lands and it happened due its nexus with BJP leaders and government’s top administrative officials,” they said.

They asked why public hearing was organised in only three villages including Semaria but not in Malpuri before the plant started construction works. “Certainly, plant establishment in Malpuri was illegal and therefore criminal case should be filed against owners, directors and officials of the company,” they demanded.