Paradip, Feb. 24: A group of South Korean officials working with Posco today visited the proposed steel project site, defying the restriction on foreign nationals visiting the area.

Organisations that are opposing the project have voiced protest over the alleged “act of impropriety” by the Posco officials.

“We have received a complaint in this regard from an office bearer of the United Action Committee, a local outfit. The matter is being investigated. Such an act is highly uncalled for. The company had been issued directions not to venture into the project site villages without prior permission from the police,” said Gupteswar Bhoi, inspector of Kujang police station.

Following violence at Bose Callis’ point near the project site on December 13, which had left one dead and 15 injured, Odisha police had imposed restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals in general and South Korean nationals in particular to the project site villages. The police had issued the order to avoid the possibility of Posco personnel facing public wrath in the area.

“A group of South Koreans from the steel company visited the project office site at Nuagaon on Tuesday. They left the village in a hurry after local people opposed their being in the village. The steel company is making a mockery of legal provisions. There has been peace and order in these parts for the last two months. The entry of the South Koreans will vitiate the atmosphere. The matter has been brought to the notice of local police. But, the police are toeing the Posco line. They are yet to register a case against the South Koreans,” said Dhirendra Pallei, working president of the committee.

On December 28, the embargo on visit to the project villages was enforced under the Foreigners’ Act, 1946, with reference to the foreigners (report to the police) order, 1971.

“Keeping in view the disturbances in the troubled areas and the panchayat polls, the police had decided to deny access to the South Korean Posco personnel to the project sites. Our primary concern was the foreign nationals’s safety because of recent violence at the project site. We are looking into the allegation that the South Koreans entered Nuagaon,” said Suresh Devidatta Singh, Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police.

Despite repeated attempts, the officials of the South Korean steel-maker could not be contacted for comment.