More than 2,000 fishermen and villagers prevented the district Congress leaders from entering Haripur on Sunday. The team, led by Sailaja Das, former Congres MLA of South Contai, tried to convince the locals but was forced to return to Contai.

Das said that the Centre should not go ahead with the proposed nuclear project at Haripur ignoring the protest of the locals. Das said that tomorrow they will apprise Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee of the present situation of Haripur.

The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) asked the district leaders of East Midnapore in the first week of January to visit Haripur and submit a report on the ground reality. The district Congress leaders reached Aladarput where more than 2,000 villagers obstructed them on Sunday. Das said that the locals demanded the proposed nuclear power project be cancelled and only then outsiders would be allowed to enter Haripur.