In Chhattisgarh, a farmers organisation claims that the CISF lathi-charged peaceful protesters at the Gevra coal mine. The protesters were demanding employment and rehabilitation, with several injuries reported.
India
-Krishna Kripa
A
farmers’
group
has
accused
the
Central
Industrial
Security
Force
(CISF)
of
using
force
against
displaced
individuals
protesting
at
the
South
Eastern
Coalfields
Limited
(SECL)
in
Korba,
Chhattisgarh.
The
SECL,
however,
stated
that
some
individuals
entered
a
restricted
area
at
its
Gevra
mine,
attempting
to
disrupt
coal
operations.
image
In
Chhattisgarh,
a
farmers
organisation
claims
that
the
CISF
lathi-charged
peaceful
protesters
at
the
Gevra
coal
mine.
The
protesters
were
demanding
employment
and
rehabilitation,
with
several
injuries
reported.
Chhattisgarh
Kisan
Sabha’s
state
joint
secretary,
Prashant
Jha,
claimed
that
CISF
personnel
used
batons
on
the
protesters
who
were
peacefully
demanding
jobs,
rehabilitation,
and
compensation
at
the
Gevra
mine.
He
mentioned
that
several
people,
including
Kisan
Sabha
district
secretary
Deepak
Sahu
and
other
leaders,
sustained
injuries.
Protesters
Demand
Accountability
Following
the
incident,
the
injured
protesters
were
allegedly
taken
to
the
police
station
against
their
will.
Upon
hearing
this,
villagers
gathered
in
large
numbers
at
the
Dipka
police
station,
insisting
on
filing
a
case
against
the
officer
responsible
for
ordering
the
baton
charge.
SECL’s
Public
Relations
Officer,
Sanish
Chandra,
explained
that
between
10
am
and
11
am,
protesters
from
Naraibodh-Bhathora
village
entered
the
Gevra
mine.
They
attempted
to
interfere
with
coal
production
and
transportation
in
an
area
where
heavy
machinery
is
operational.
CISF’s
Actions
Under
Scrutiny
Chandra
noted
that
when
the
protesters
disrupted
work,
a
CISF
team
intervened
to
stop
them
and
tried
to
send
them
back.
The
situation
escalated
from
there.
Dipka
police
station
in-charge
Premchand
Sahu
stated
that
a
baton
charge
typically
requires
an
Executive
Magistrate’s
order.
He
added
that
the
CISF’s
authority
within
SECL
premises
is
currently
under
investigation.
An
inquiry
is
ongoing
to
determine
whether
proper
procedures
were
followed
during
the
incident.
The
investigation
aims
to
clarify
the
extent
of
CISF’s
powers
in
such
situations
within
SECL
premises.
With
inputs
from
PTI
