Chhattisgarh coal block protest turns violent; several cops injured, vehicles torched

RAIPUR: A simmering villagers’ sit-in against a coal block project exploded into violence in Raigarh’s Tamnar region in Chhattisgarh on Saturday, leaving a police officer and several cops badly injured as protesters clashed with security forces, torched vehicles and forced authorities to deploy reserve units to contain the spiralling tension.The situation remained highly volatile through the evening, with multiple incidents of arson, stone-pelting and attacks on police reported from the area, said Naresh Sharma, a scribe from the spot. He added that on Saturday morning, police moved in with heavy deployment — two buses and more than ten four-wheelers carrying personnel — to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade. Officials said they tried to counsel the villagers and appealed for the road to be cleared. During this operation, around 35–40 protesters, including local protesting leader Radheshyam Sharma, were reportedly detained. Coal traffic, which had been halted for days, slowly began to resume.But tension spiked again near Khuruslenga village. A heavy vehicle transporting coal allegedly hit a local villager who was riding a bicycle, leaving him seriously injured. Activist groups later claimed the man was crushed under the truck, though there was no immediate official confirmation of his condition. News of the incident spread quickly through the already charged crowd and anger flared once more.The flashpoint comes after a 15-day agitation by residents of 14 villages in Tamnar block against what they allege was a “fake” environmental public hearing for a private company’s coal block at Gare Pelma. Villagers have been camping at coal handling plant chowk, outside the company gate, blocking the movement of coal-laden heavy vehicles.Tamnar station house officer Kamla Pusam reached the spot with a team to pacify the villagers. However, according to police, she was surrounded by an enraged mob, mainly women. Video clips from the scene show women and other protesters pushing, kicking and hitting her with sticks. She was seen requesting to spare her, till she fainted. Other videos from the ground show the SHO, visibly shaken, later being given water by some of the same women seen attacking her moments earlier.Stone-pelting followed, and several more policemen were injured in the melee. Police sources said multiple personnel had to be evacuated from the area and taken to hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses said that the injured cops were taken to nearby health centres. An ambulance, a car and at least two buses including one associated with the company and another linked to the administration — were set ablaze by the crowd. Speaking to TOI, Bilaspur range IGP Sanjeev Shukla said that the situation is still tense but under control. “Deployment of over 200 police personnel has been done to keep vigilance in the region. Raigarh SP Divyang Patel and collector Mayank Chaturvedi were on the spot to monitor the situation. The whole incident will be properly assessed as to what led to the violence, and only then further statement will be issued. The villagers rounded up the force and pelted stones and bricks. I along with divisional commissioner are on way to Tamnar,”Power cut, additional forces rushed, village sealed offWith tempers running high, the administration ordered electricity to be cut in the affected area as a precaution. Additional police forces, including reserve units from Urdana police lines, were deployed in and around Tamnar.Officials said movement of outsiders into the villages has been heavily restricted and security personnel are maintaining a close watch on entry and exit points. “The situation remains tense but under control,” a senior officer said, adding that cases of rioting, assault on public servants and arson are likely to be registered.In a statement issued after Saturday’s violence, the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan called the incident “unfortunate” but held the state administration responsible. The group alleged that the arrest of protesters from the dharna site and the incident involving the coal dumper triggered the flare-up.The statement accused successive governments of using police force to crush peaceful, democratic protests in mining and forest areas across the state — from Hasdeo to Amera — and of turning Chhattisgarh into a “grazing ground for corporate loot” at the expense of Adivasi and farmer livelihoods.