Eight agitating villagers held in Talcher

Odisha Channel Bureau Angul, July 14: Police on Sunday lifted agitating villagers from two coal mines and later arrested eight of them under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to facilitate coal mining operations in two mega mines at Talcher.On the third day of the Hensmul villagers’ anti-mining stir, police removed about 200 agitating villagers and then lodged them in Deulbera colliery institute.Later they arrested eight of them and released the remaining people.According to police, the arrested villagers were sent to jail after their bail petition was rejected by court at Talcher.On Saturday, MCL authorities gave in writing to the striking villagers revoking their termination orders on 122 dismissed villagers and also agreed not to break their service period during the termination period of two months.But villagers demanded payment of wages in these two months of termination period which was turned down by MCL that led to continuation of stir.MCL says it being a Government company cannot pay the wages during the termination period.According to colliery official source, mining operation was resumed for some time during the day on Sunday, but then stopped out of fear.Hensmul villagers have been up in their arms since 127 of their villagers were dismissed from MCL job in May for not vacating their homestead land.They want alternative site to shift which has not so far been provided to them.Earlier, they were given one site at Gurugang which they refused and demanded another one which was also refused by MCL.The deadlock went on leading dismissal of jobs and mines bandh stir.However, both MCL and villagers are hopeful to have breakthrough at project level advisory meeting to be held on July 19 where Angul District Collector will chair the meeting.