Panel to probe if politicians & officials have bought land near refinery: Samant

While anti-refinery activists and villagers were also called to the meeting, villagers did not attend it saying they were called at a short notice.

Samant said that during the meeting Raut and others told him that some government officials have purchased land parcels in Barsu and to inquire into it he has given orders to set up a single-member committee headed by the district collector.

He also said that a Maharashtra State Electricity Board official who was posted in Rajapur and has purchased a land parcel around the proposed refinery has been transferred with immediate effect.

“If any officials have purchased land parcels, inquiry will be conducted in two days as to how and why it was purchased,” Samant said. He said that in order to facilitate talks between the government and the protesters, the government has decided not to book the protesters who allegedly assaulted officials on Friday.

“The Barsu project was discussed in the meeting with the public representatives and the administration. There is an attempt to spread misconception that all these things are being done by using police force.

Preventive action was taken after yesterday’s protest. But the women were released immediately after being detained. Only men were kept under custody,” Samant said, adding that he assured in the meeting that stringent provisions like Section 353 of the IPC will not be imposed on protesters. He said he has asked officials to get in touch with Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to brief him on the issue.

Meanwhile, the men protesters who were kept in custody on Friday night were produced in the Rajapur court and released on bail.