Expressing solidarity with the protestors at Posco's mega project site in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district where land acquisition was stopped and the police withdrawn today, CPI National Secretary D Raja said that the forces must completely withdraw from the area.

"The early morning operation by the police at Gobindpur village is really deplorable. The government cannot take away land from farmers forcibly. The chief minister must announce complete withdrawal of forces from the area," Raja told PTI before heading towards the plant site.

Stating that government temporarily withdrawing the police was not sufficient, Raja said "If they are claiming to be undertaking peaceful land acquisition, what exactly are the forces doing there?

"The concerns of the local people are genuine. How can a government use force to take away land from farmers. The state government cannot do this. We will strongly oppose such police action," he said, adding that assault on children and women were serious issues.

Noting that the farmers were fighting against displacement for seven years, Raja said "Dhinkia has multi-crop and fertile land. Such highly fertile land should not be given up for industrialisation."

The government must allow the people to decide whether they wanted to give their land for the steel plant, he said.

Asked whether the CPI would support the Posco project if it was shifted to some other place, he said "Let the government make such an announcement."

Raja said he would spend the night in the area and meet the people and anti-Posco movement leaders.

CPI and other like minded parties have meanwhile drawn attention of Governor M C Bhandare on the alleged police excesses on the protestors.