Over 30 cops injured as coal mine protest turns violent in Chhattisgarh
image for illustrative purpose
Ambikapur: More than 30 police personnel were injured when a group of villagers protesting against the expansion of an open-cast coal mine clashed with them and hurled stones in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, officials said. Some villagers were also injured in the face-off which occurred on Wednesday. Residents of Parsodi Kala village in the Bishrampur area have been opposing the extension of the Amera coal project of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, despite the land acquisition process being completed long back, the officials said.
The SECL claimed in a statement that the villagers were instigated by a few persons who have vested interests and indulge in illegal activities like coal pilferage. After pacifying the villagers, mining activities resumed in the mine on Wednesday evening, the officials said.
On learning about the protest, district officials along with police reached the site, which falls under the jurisdiction of Lakhanpur police station, Additional District Collector Sunil Nayak told reporters.
