Children and women as used as human shield to protect their land in the Posco area. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar/Paradip, June 19: The state government has warned Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the anti-Posco outfit, not to use children as shields. Many students of the local high school and primary schools have joined the agitation.

Women and child development minister, Anjali Behera said: 'We are keeping a tab on the movement. I have called a meeting on this issue tomorrow. I believe children should never be used in an agitation.'

On the other hand PPSS chief Abhay Sahu said the organisation had done nothing illegal. 'The children are coming to protect their ancestors’ land from forceful acquisition. When their parents are agitating against the government’s illegal move, the children cannot sit ideal at home,' said Sahu. However, child rights activist, Anuradha Mohanty said: 'No one should be allowed to violate the rights of the children. Even the parents don’t enjoy that right.”

A 15-member delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), headed by former minister Bimbdhar Kuanar, visited Nuagaon, Govindpur and Dhinkia, the epicentre of the anti-Posco agitation, and expressed their solidarity with protesters.

On Saturday, a Congress delegation had visited the site.

After the meeting, the BJP stepped up its demand for an immediate end to the ongoing land acquisition process and urged the state government to convene an all-party meeting before the government renews the MoU with Posco.

Unfazed by the protest by political parties and the anti-displacement brigades, the state government today demarcated the border of the steel project in Polang village under Gadakujan gram panchayat.

However, as the line dividing the project area from the neighbouring locality was drawn, there were visible signs of protest from the land-losers. The administration is scheduled to resume the land acquisition process tomorrow.

Tension mounted at the demarcation line spot with nearly 500 villagers owing allegiance to United Action Committee (UAC), a pro-Posco outfit, rushing to the spot and demanding that the work be stopped.

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDCO) personnel later stopped work. UAC general secretary, Nirvaya Samantaray said: “We protested the demarcation work as the state government is yet fulfil our six-charter demand for revision in the compensation package.”