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Sarguja Coal Mine News: The movement against Ambikapur Amera Coal Mine Extension has turned violent. The villagers pelted stones at the police in protest against the administration team that came to carry out the excavation. There are reports of 40 policemen injured. Many villagers have also been injured. At present, forces are deployed in the mine. There is tension.
Report: Varun Roy
Sarguja News: There was an uproar on Wednesday over the expansion of the Amera coal mine of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh. Here the agitation of the villagers that had been going on for several months turned violent. The protesters reached the mine site and pelted stones at the police. In response, the police released tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge. The villagers pelted stones at the police, due to which about 40 policemen were injured. Many villagers have also been injured.
At present, the situation in the mines remains tense. The district administration has deployed additional forces. The dispute is over the extension project of Amera Coal Mines, against which the tribal community has been protesting for months. Villagers claim that the expansion will destroy their fields, forests and water sources, which will have a deep impact on livelihoods. As soon as the protest started on Wednesday afternoon, the villagers tried to move forward shouting slogans. When the police used batons to stop them, the angry villagers pelted stones. The police chased the protesters back by using tear gas.
We will not give the land…
The agitating woman Lilavati alleged, “SECL is imposing the project without the consent of the Gram Sabha. We will save our land. Our ancestors have raised their families on this land. Now when it is our turn, the administration wants to take it over. We will not give up our land under any circumstances.”
Land acquisition action taken in 2016 itself
Meanwhile, Additional Collector of Surguja, Sunil Nayak said, people of Parsodi Kala village were present at Amol coal mine today. They are not giving permission for further coal mining, whereas the land acquisition process has been completed in 2016. Many villagers have taken compensation. Some villagers are not taking compensation and are obstructing the mining work. When we went to do the excavation, the villagers became furious and pelted stones at the police. The police also had to resort to lathi charge and tear gas to control the situation. A lot has been explained to the villagers. Every side has been told to him.
A youth arrested, police started search in the forest
Police has arrested a youth in the Amera Coal Mine Extension dispute. Other villagers involved in the attack fled towards the mountains and forests, for whose arrest backup forces have been called. The police is now running a search operation in the forest. It is being told that the villagers had become furious regarding the extension of the mine. Armed with sticks, slingshots and axes, they attacked the police. The situation in the area remains tense.
