PTI: PARADIP, MAR 02 2013, 21:52 IST, FE
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Paradip, Odisha: Four people were killed when crude bombs exploded in Patana village of Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district today. The village is considered to be a stronghold of groups opposing Posco’s mega steel project.Two others were injured in the explosions.Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police Satyabrat Bhoi said the police are probing the circumstances that led to the blasts.

But anti-Posco agitators alleged the bombs were thrown at them by rival groups supporting the steel project.

“Our people were attacked as they opposed the construction of a road from Patana,” Abhay Sahoo, president of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, told the Press Trust of India.

South Korean Steel giant Posco signed an agreement with the Odisha government in 2005, but its project has been delayed because of protests over land acquisition and other bottlenecks.

Denying preparation of bombs by anti-Posco agitators as claimed by police, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) president Abhay Sahy said, “Three of our men are killed in the attack by project supporters. Our people were attacked as they opposed construction of a road from Patana to Balitutha.”

CPI leader Rama Krushna Panda, however, claimed that three PPSS activists were killed and another sustained injured when the project supporters hurled bomb at them.

“We have already informed the police about the incident and sought ambulance to carry the injured persons to hospital. But, ambulance was yet to reach the village,” Panda alleged.

The 4th victim Laxman Paramanik died as no ambulance could reach the village – thanks to Odisha police!