More protest expected at Anrak alumina plant

Police authorities are beefing up their presence at Anrak alumina plant area to withstand protests scheduled to be held by Congress party activists at the site.

Despite prohibitory orders being clamped in the plant area by police, Narsipatnam Congress MLA Bolem Muthyala Papa has decided to take out a massive protest in front of the plant, giving jitters to the cops. This is the first time that a leader from the ruling Congress party has picked up the baton to fight on behalf of the plant displaced persons. The MLA has listed out nine demands on behalf of displaced persons and warned the authorities and plant management of taking up hunger strike if they failed to accept these demands. The MLA has already lodged a complaint against the Makavarapalem sub-inspector with the Assembly speaker and DGP through fax, alleging that the police were supporting the plant management by allegedly registering false cases against innocent people.

Two farmers were killed when police caned them in their bid to arrest the then PRP leader Errapatrudu at the agitation camp two years ago. Later, displaced people have been agitating for fulfillment of their demands. After learning about her complaint against the cops, two police officers also visited her house to convince her but she refused to accept their explanations, sources said.

The opposition termed the Congress MLA's taking up cudgels on behalf of the project displaced as political gimmickry.