At least eight people, including police personnel, were injured as a protest against a coal mining project in Tamnar, Raigarh, turned violent, with stone-pelting, vehicle torches, and clashes escalating tensions.
Chattisgarh: In Raigarh’s Tamnar area, a protest against a coal mining project escalated into violent clashes on Saturday, leaving eight people, including police personnel, injured.
A woman police officer sustained injuries after being allegedly assaulted by a group of women protesters. The situation deteriorated as demonstrators engaged in stone-pelting and set ablaze three vehicles, including a bus, a car, and a police vehicle.
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The protest has been ongoing for 15 days, with hundreds of residents from 14 villages opposing the coal block allotted to Jindal Steel in the Gare Pelma Sector-I. Villagers alleged that the public hearing conducted for project clearance did not comply with prescribed norms. Tensions intensified when police attempted to disperse protesters, prompting retaliatory action.
Raigarh Superintendent of Police Divyang Patel and additional forces were deployed to restore order. Social media footage from the incident shows confrontations between villagers and police, with some attempting to shield the assaulted officer.
State Congress president Deepak Baij condemned the clashes, accusing the state government of forcibly displacing villagers and tribals to facilitate industrial interests. He stated that the villagers were peacefully protesting but were provoked by authorities, leading to violent confrontations.
The clash involved extensive stone-pelting, leading to injuries among both villagers and police personnel. A woman police officer, Kamla Pusam, was reportedly attacked by women protesters, sustaining visible injuries. Videos circulating online show multiple angles of the confrontation, highlighting the chaotic environment.
The Special Revision of voter rolls and monitoring by authorities over previous weeks in the region had already heightened administrative attention, and security measures were subsequently tightened. Local officials confirmed that ongoing investigations will determine further legal action against those involved in the violence.
This incident underscores the persistent tension between industrial projects and local communities in Chhattisgarh, particularly concerning land rights, tribal livelihoods, and environmental concerns. The conflict highlights the challenges of balancing economic development with social justice and community consent in resource-rich regions.
(With PTI inputs)
Published: 27 Dec 2025, 07:46 pm IST
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