Paradip, April 17: People opposing the big-ticket Posco steel project today turned out in a large number to cast vote in Dhinkia, the nerve centre of the resistance movement.

The prominent anti-Posco movement territory, which had remained out of bounds for government agencies, including police, for several years, witnessed brisk polling.

The polling was peaceful and devoid of any untoward incidents, said an official.

“We are thankful to the people of Dhinkia and Gobindpur for taking active part in the polling. We had appealed to the electorate through confidence-building drives. It has paid dividends and of the 5,000 voters, most turned up today to cast vote,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick.

In 2009, polls could not be held in the area due to the resistance movement. The people had also boycotted panchayat polls in 2012.

Besides, the government had resisted from holding elections then as the anti-Posco resistance movement was at its peak and the situation remained volatile.

Young voters were excited to have got the opportunity to cast vote. Dibajyoti Samantaray, 24, said: “Though I got the right to vote six years ago, this is for the first time I could press the button of the EVM. Elections could not be held earlier due to disturbances in our area. Now, peace prevails here. I am glad to have exercised the citizen’s right to vote.”

Akshyaya Sahu, 56, another local of Dhinkia, said: “Holding of polls in a peaceful manner clearly indicates that the situation has turned normal in our locality. I am glad to have cast vote.”

Ahead of the polls, the administration had made efforts to turn people in favour of the polls at the village, where residents had been stoutly resisting the proposed steel mill by the South Korean company.

In 2009 elections, a polling booth could not be set up at Dhinkia. Villagers were requested to cast their votes at a booth at Trilochanpur, which is around 7km from their homes. Many villagers skipped the vote last time as they had become apprehensive of coercive action by the police.

Hundreds of warrants are still pending against their names.