Seraikela: Road construction in Titirbili commences under police presence, accused still at large

Mail News Service

Seraikela, June 8: The administration, accompanied by a police force, initiated road construction work in Titirbili village under the Saraikela police station. Despite the presence of law enforcement, named individuals associated with obstruction of government work remained at large although they raised protests in the presence of police.

Efforts to commence road construction faced resistance from villagers, leading to an FIR filed against seven named and 150 unknown individuals on charges of obstructing government work and attacking police personnel. On Saturday, as construction activities resumed under police protection, the accused and villagers once again gathered at the site to voice their opposition.

Despite their protests, law enforcement personnel tried to apprehend the accused persons. With the deployment of police reinforcements, the area has been transformed into a police cantonment to ensure uninterrupted progress on the construction project spanning eight hundred meters.

The administration has resumed road construction work in Titirbili village under the Seraikela zone, intending to build an 800-meter bypass road connecting the Tiring border of Odisha via the Rajnagar road. Despite objections from local villagers, work recommenced on Saturday with the deployment of a large contingent of police and armed forces.

A delegation from Titirbili village met Seraikela SDO Sunil Kumar Prajapati, urging the cessation of land acquisition and bypass road construction. However, the SDO cited orders from superiors and proceeded with the construction. Manik Mahato, representing the villagers, highlighted the demands for access to maps and related documents concerning the construction, emphasizing the Fifth Schedule area and PESA Act. Despite these concerns, the administration pressed forward with land acquisition for road construction.