Orissa: Posco officials taken hostage, released

Four senior Posco-India officials, including three South Korean nationals, were taken hostage by activists...

Four senior Posco-India officials, including three South Korean nationals, were taken hostage by activists opposing the project on Saturday at the company’s proposed captive port site, but released unharmed seven hours later.

The senior executives, General Manager (Constructions) K S Chui, architects T J Ann and S H Nan, and Oriya official Deepak Ojha, who were held captive were later released, said Jagatsinghpur SP Y K Jethwa. They were kept hostage in Tillotampur near Dhinkia village, which has been resisting the proposed steel plant by the Korean company.

Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) claimed its activists rounded up the officials when they were undertaking a survey near the proposed port site. Samiti chief Abhay Sahu said the officials were held hostage as they deliberately entered the restricted area despite being warned to keep away from their villages.

In the past three days, PPSS activists have taken at least 13 Posco officials into captivity, sources said. Three officials, including Posco-India’s Kujang office General Manager Ardhendu Mohapatra, who were taken hostage on Friday had, however, escaped on Friday night, they said. The 10 masons who were abducted on Thursday are still in captivity.

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