Surguja (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 15 (HBTV): Protests against the proposed extension of South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s Amera coal mine turned violent in Parsodi Kalan village near Ambikapur, with villagers pelting stones at police personnel, who responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Officials said several police personnel sustained serious injuries during the clashes.
Surguja Upper Collector Sunil Kumar Nayak said residents of Parsodi Kalan were opposing further coal mining at the SECL Amera site, with some villagers refusing to accept compensation following a land survey conducted in 2016.
‘Residents of Parsodi Kalan village have gathered at SECL Amera, stating that they will not allow further coal mining. When we spoke with them, we learned that the land survey process was completed in 2016, and some villagers have received their compensation after the survey,’ Nayak said.
He added that a section of villagers continues to refuse compensation and has been disrupting mining operations. ‘Many villagers are still refusing compensation despite the land survey process. Stone pelting occurred here, resulting in serious injuries to several police personnel,’ he said.
Authorities said the situation remains tense, and security arrangements have been strengthened in the area to prevent further escalation.
(ANI)