Paradip, Feb. 16: A group of people today set afire temporary Posco office sheds and demolished a portion of the newly built boundary wall at the site near Paradip.

Sources said apart from important official documents, property worth Rs 50 lakh was destroyed in the incident.

Security guards deployed at the company office at Nuagaon fled when the mob torched the office sheds. Then they broke a portion of the boundary wall and stopped workers engaged at the site. The violence continued for 45 minutes after which the crowd of around 1,200 protesters left.

The protesters said they resorted to violence because neither the company nor the government was doing anything to redress their rehabilitation and resettlement related grievances.

“It has been a test of patience for those who have lost their land and means of livelihood. Ironically, the people who indulged in violence today are supporters of the project. No final shape has been given to the resettlement scheme for the displaced villagers,” said Tamil Pradhan, a local resident.

“It is an unfortunate development at a time when the process of rehabilitation is on in full swing. The company is also getting ready to implement various periphery development projects for betterment of the displaced people,” said general manager (construction), Posco-Odisha, S.N. Singh.

“Though the company authorities have not lodged any complaints, criminal cases are being registered,” said Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi.