Rourkela, Mar 25 (UNI) Former BJD MLA George Tirkey and 116 tribals involved in yesterday's attack on Adhunik Metalick at Kuanarmunda were arrested today after their bail applications were rejected by the court.

The tribals, led by Mr Tirkey forced their way into the plant and went on a rampage, damaging assets and attacking the officials.

They were demanding employment of the local people in the plant.

Police said all the arrested were booked under various sections of the IPC act for indulging in rioting, assaulting and obstructing officials, attempt to murder and section seven of the Law Criminal Ammendment Act.

While Mr Tirkey was sent to Sundargarh jail for security reasons, the other 116 tribals were lodged in Panposh sub jail. Sundargarh Superintendent of Police S Saini said, six platoons of police force had been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

She said the Adhunik Metalick started functioning normally though with thin attendence. The other Sponge Iron factories located in Kuanarmunda were also functioning normally though the agitators threatened to close them down if Mr Tirkey and other demontrators were not released.

About 200 agitators later blocked NH-2(Rourkela-Ranchi road) to protest the arrest of Mr Tirkey and others but the police got the road cleared and allowed smooth movement of the traffic.

The SP addedd situation in the area was well under control with no untoward incident reported so far from the troubled Kuanarmunda area.

UNI XC-DP TJP OM RS2217