Paradip, Feb. 6: Jagatsinghpur district administration today put off the land acquisition exercise for Posco steel project midway and withdrew police forces from Gobindpur village following talks with protesters.

“The administration has suspended the land acquisition drive for a day. People accompanied by leaders of various political parties had come to meet us to demand withdrawal of police forces and suspension of land acquisition. We stopped the operations midway today,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick.

“We held talks with agitating people and political party leaders in a congenial atmosphere. We apprised them of government’s intention not to carry on forcible acquisition of land,” said the collector.

Leaders of the CPI, the CPM, the SUCI, the CPI(ML), the Samajwadi Party and the Forward Block participated in the rally.

Posco Pratirodh Samgram Samit (PPSS), the outfit spearheading a resistance movement against land acquisition for the proposed Posco steel plant, described today’s development as a moral victory of the “unarmed” people.

“The state government officials have bowed to the combined strength of people. The people’s movement against the project will go on till Posco makes a retreat from the place,” said PPSS chief Abhay Sahu.

After being halted for more than a year, land acquisition for Posco project near Paradip was resumed on February 3.

During the course of today’s forest clearance exercise, 14 betel vineyards were dismantled, while Rs 24 lakh compensation was paid to the vineyard owners. The Odisha government has taken possession of about 60 acres of forestland during the latest drive.

In a related development, Jagatsinghpur district police have started an inquiry into the alleged highhandedness of a government officer in beating up people during the land acquisition exercise on February 3.

“We have received a complaint regarding the unlawful and arbitrary behaviour of an officer. We are investigating it,” said Jagatsinghpur police superintendent Satyabrata Bhoi.