By Rootsalert News Desk
RAIGARH, Dec 28: A mandatory public hearing regarding the proposed expansion of a coal mine by Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) in Tamnar block was abruptly called off on Sunday, following widespread violence and arson by protesting villagers.
The confrontation left several police personnel injured and saw a police bus and jeep set ablaze, forcing the district administration to suspend the proceedings to prevent further escalation.
The Flashpoint
Tensions had been simmering in the Gare Pelma sector for days, with local communities opposing the environmental clearance for the mine’s expansion. On Sunday morning, thousands of villagers gathered at the hearing site in Tamnar to register their protest.
According to on-ground reports, the situation spiraled out of control when a section of the crowd attempted to breach the barricades. What began as slogan-shouting quickly turned into a pitched battle between the protesters and security forces.
Witnesses reported heavy stone-pelting directed at the police deployment. In the ensuing chaos, a mob targeted police vehicles parked nearby. Visuals from the spot showed a police bus engulfed in flames and a jeep overturned and damaged. Police resorted to mild force to disperse the crowd, but the volatility of the situation rendered the continuation of the hearing impossible.
Administration Concedes
Raigarh District Collector, present at the venue to oversee the proceedings, announced the cancellation of the public hearing shortly after the violence peaked.
“Ideally, a public hearing is a forum for dialogue, but given the breakdown of law and order and the threat to public safety, we have decided to cancel the hearing immediately,” a senior administrative official stated. The cancellation was a primary demand of the protesting groups, who argue that the mine expansion threatens local biodiversity and tribal land rights.
CM Orders Probe
Taking cognizance of the incident, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has ordered a high-level inquiry into the lapse in security and the outbreak of violence.
“The government respects the right to protest, but violence and arson cannot be tolerated. Instructions have been issued to identify those who took the law into their own hands,” the CM’s office said in a statement.
As of Sunday evening, a heavy contingent of police remains deployed in Tamnar. The situation is described as tense but under control.
