Report: Aditya Rai
This morning, a fierce protest by the villagers turned into a violent clash at the Amera coal mine of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), located 15 km from Ambikapur in Surajpur district in Chhattisgarh. More than 300 villagers, including a large number of women, entered the mine to stop the ongoing excavation during open cast mining. The villagers, armed with sticks, rods, slingshots and coal stones lying nearby, attacked the police force, in which more than 40 policemen were injured.
At around 8 in the morning, digging work had started in the mine on three Poklane machines when the villagers of Parsodhi Kala village suddenly arrived. They surrounded the machines and warned to stop the work. As soon as the information was received, the local police force reached the spot and tried to pacify the villagers, but as the talks failed, the villagers got angry. The shower of coal stones started, which was so strong that the policemen wearing polycarbonate safety shields had to retreat.
Additional forces arrived, then lathicharge
Head constable Pawan Yadav’s face was drenched in blood after being hit by a stone under his eye, while several other soldiers were seriously injured. The villagers also attacked with sticks, in response to which the police threw some stones, but had to retreat due to being less in numbers. Additional forces were called from the district. The team that arrived under the leadership of Additional Collector Sunil Nayak released tear gas shells and did a mild lathicharge. Due to this the villagers ran to the mountains above the mine and hid in the forest.
not ready to give land
According to the information, the police is now running a search operation, while another team from the rear part of the mine is trying to surround the attackers. Meena Varti, a village woman from Parsodhi Kala, suffered head injuries in the lathicharge. He said, “Our land is the earning of our ancestors. What will we do by taking compensation? What will we leave for the children? We will never give it.”
That’s why the villagers became angry
This dispute is related to the 2016 extension of Amera coal mine. The central government then expanded the mine, acquiring about 100 acres of land from Parsodhi Kala village. After the process was completed, most of the villagers accepted the compensation, but some complained in the Collector Court. After the hearing, the court issued an interim order and directed to pay the remaining compensation. Despite this, SECL got permission for mining. For the last several days, the villagers were protesting by setting up tents in the upper part of the mine. As soon as the digging started today, he became furious.
Villagers’ protest is illegal
Additional Collector Sunil Nayak said, “Land acquisition was completed in 2016 itself. All legal procedures were followed. Most of the affected people took compensation. The complaint of some villagers who protested was heard, but the mine was handed over to SECL. The protest is illegal.” Police have registered the case and started investigation. The local administration has deployed additional forces to restore peace.
