The movement of villagers against the coal block in Chhattisgarh became fierce (Photo-X)
PTI, Raigarh. The agitation by villagers, which has been going on for the last 15 days, turned violent on Saturday, demanding cancellation of the public hearing of the proposed Gare-Pelma Coal Block Sector-1 in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.
The angry villagers set fire to the bus-car of the police and administration present at the spot. The situation here became so tense that the woman police station officer of Tamnar, Kamla Pusam, was thrown on the road by the women and beaten. Some other people involved in the movement rescued the police station officer and he was taken to the hospital. His condition is normal.
The police team had arrived with administrative officials along with its force on Saturday to pick up the villagers from the protest site. Seeing the large number of police forces, the villagers' agitation took a violent turn and the atmosphere became tense.
When the movement became violent, additional police forces had to be called from the district headquarters and neighboring districts. Late in the evening the villagers again sat on strike at the spot. The police have detained about 30 people. Also, police force has been deployed on the spot.
Raigarh Collector Mayank Chaturvedi said that the villagers were instigated by anti-social elements, due to which they pelted stones at the police deployed for security at the protest site. Policemen got hurt due to this.