#BREAKINGNEWS: Villagers Storm Jindal Power Plant in Raigarh Protest

Villagers protesting a proposed coal mining project in the Tamnar area of Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district turned violent on Saturday, leading to clashes with police, arson, and large-scale damage to public and private property. The agitation, which had been ongoing peacefully for over two weeks, escalated after the crowd swelled and law enforcement failed to restore order, officials said.

According to the district administration, residents from 14 villages affected by the Gare Pelma Sector-I coal block had been staging a sit-in protest since December 12 at CHP Chowk in Libra village. The protest was aimed at opposing a public hearing conducted on December 8 for environmental clearance of the project, which villagers claim was held in violation of prescribed norms and without proper consultation.

Tensions rose on Saturday morning when around 300 protesters allegedly blocked a road, disrupting traffic. Senior revenue and police officials intervened and persuaded them to return to the designated protest site. However, as people from nearby villages joined, the crowd grew to nearly 1,000. Despite repeated appeals by authorities to maintain peace, the situation deteriorated around 2.30 pm when protesters allegedly broke barricades and attacked police personnel with stones and sticks.

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Several police officers, including Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Anil Vishwakarma and Tamnar police station in-charge Kamla Pusam, sustained serious injuries. Protesters reportedly set fire to a police bus, a jeep, and an ambulance, and damaged multiple government vehicles. The violence later spread to the coal handling plant of Jindal Power Limited, where the mob allegedly forced entry, torched a conveyor belt, two tractors, and other vehicles, and vandalised office premises.

Villagers, however, disputed the official version, claiming the unrest began after police attempted to forcibly remove protesters from the demonstration site earlier in the day. One protester, Rajesh Singh Markam of Kasdol village, submitted a complaint to the Raigarh Superintendent of Police, alleging threats from the local station house officer. These claims have added to concerns about the handling of the protest.

Collector Mayank Chaturvedi blamed the violence on “anti-social elements,” stating that the protest had remained peaceful for 15 days and that the administration had been providing necessary facilities. He said attempts to hold dialogue failed as the crowd became aggressive and leaderless. While the injured are reported to be stable, security has been tightened in the area. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij criticised the state government, alleging forcible displacement of villagers and tribals for coal mining and calling the clash a result of administrative insensitivity.

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