Sonbhadra anti-dam protesters evicted, 17 injured

Varanasi: More than a dozen farmers and several policemen were injured when police on Saturday used force to evict farmers and activists protesting against building of Kanhar dam for the past five days at the dam site in Sonbhadra dictrict. This came after talks between the administration and agitators failed to end the impasse over compensation for land acquired for the project.
Reports said farmers fought pitched battle with police who tried to stop them from coming out of the villages surrounding the dam site. When the farmers threw brickbats, the police resorted by firing rubber bullets and cane charge. Later, 17 injured demonstrators were arrested and sent to hospital. Four cops, including two circle officers, also suffered injuries in the violence.
The All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) which was spearheading the protest, has alleged that police opened fire on demonstrators to crush the stir. Meanwhile, several unions of lawyers, traders and political parties came forward in support of the dam construction and forced closure of Duddhi market and blocked the Riva-Ranchi highway. They also decided to take out “Kanhar March” in support of the project on Sunday.
A group of tribal people took to agitation against acquisition of their land for Kanhar dam project under the leadership of AIUFWP activists since April 14. On the first day of the stir, the demonstration had turned violent when police used force and allegedly opened fire in which one agitator and SO Duddhi were injured. Two FIRs were lodged against 50 identified and over 300 unidentified persons under different sections of IPC in this connection.
Since then, heavy police and paramilitary forces were deployed. District magistrate Sanjay Kumar and SP S S Yadav, who were camping at the site, could not succeed in ending deadlock till Friday night. With the dawn on Saturday, the cops swung into action and forced the demonstrators to quit the dam construction site. Though the high drama ended by 8.30 am, officials could not defuse the tension that gripped the adjoining areas.
Deputy general secretary of AIUFWP Roma alleged in a press release that police and PAC had committed brutality with demonstrators, especially women and children and also opened fire in which several suffered injuries.
SP Sonbhadra said, “Police used only rubber bullets and tear gas against the demonstrators to avoid lethal injuries.” The DM said, “Though prohibitory orders have been promulgated at the project site, doors are open for talks with the tribal people to listen to their grievances against acquisition of land and find out a solution.”