Case No Country IND 14/2011 29/07/2011 India JUA Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply Arbitrary detention; Food; Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; 03/08/2011 Alleged acts of violence and intimidation in the context of forced evictions. According to the information received, the residents of Govindpur village have for several years expressed opposition to the acquisition of their lands by a Korean-owned company called POSCO. On 9 June 2011, over 2,000 villagers reportedly formed a human barricade, trying to prevent the police forces from seizing the land for the company. The people of Govindpur were allegedly not able to access the nearby market to sell their products for fear of being captured by the police. Reportedly, the police forces also proceeded to destroy the betel vine, a locally grown food crop, in an apparent effort to force villagers to leave their lands. On 16 July 2011, more than 200 people from Sanhaipai Mathasahi village and Polong village reportedly gathered in the forest in order to prevent the area from being cleared by the police. The police allegedly responded with violence, and eight people were injured. On 15 July 2011, hundreds of people protesting the land acquisitions for the construction of the integrated steel plant were reportedly arrested and then released. The authorities of Orissa allegedly processed hundreds of criminal charges against residents who mobilized to resist the land acquisition efforts. Since 2009 the following leaders have reportedly been arrested and then released on bail: Mr. Ashok Bardhan, Mr. Sura Dash, Mr. Dambarudhar Palai, Mr. Bhramarbar Sethy, Mr. Sachikanta Mahapatra, Mr. Kailash Biswal, Mr. Anirudha Nayak, Mr. Ramesh Das, Mr. Abhaya Sahoo and Mr. Prakash Jena . On 3 June 2011, the police reportedly brutally beat villagers from the community of Nuagoan, who were expressing opposition to the forceful acquisition of their land for the project. Several people were allegedly injured in the attack . 17 people were allegedly arrested, including women and children. Members of the local government administration allegedly incited project supporters to burn down the betel vines of a member of PPSS in the Nuagaon village . The alleged forced eviction of farmers from Polong and Noliasahi villages was the subject of an earlier communication (see above, IND 12/2011). A/HRC/19/44 48 Date Type