Violent clash was witnessed between villagers and police in Hasdev Aranya area of Chhattisgarh. The reason for the clash is the villagers’ protest against the cutting of trees. The police were busy cutting trees in the Parsa coal block allotted to Rajasthan State Electricity Corporation Limited. But 8 policemen including two TIs have been injured in this attack. 16 villagers were injured in the lathicharge by the police in retaliation.
Violent clash against felling of trees
Police force was deployed between Fatehpur and Hariharpur from the night of 16th October to cut trees for Parsa Coal Block. Along with this, hundreds of villagers had come together to protest against the cutting of trees. When the police force tried to remove the villagers, a violent clash broke out between the villagers and the police personnel.
Both sides got injured in violent clash
The villagers protesting against the cutting of trees attacked them with arrows, sticks and stones. In this attack, two policemen were hit by arrows and other policemen were injured by stones. The police used batons on the villagers. During this period, more than a dozen villagers were injured. ASP Amolak Singh said that the policemen injured in the clash have been admitted to Udaipur CHC.
Accused of lathicharge on villagers
Hasdev Bachao Samiti has accused the unarmed villagers of lathi charge against the felling of trees. Police officers along with officials of Surguja district administration are deployed at the spot. Cutting of trees has started in the police circle. 6000 trees are to be cut in the first phase for Parsa Coal Block.
Allegation of obtaining consent by making fake proposal
A complaint has been filed in the State SC Commission alleging that a fake proposal was made to obtain the consent of the Gram Sabhas of Hariharpur, Salhi and Fatepur for the Parsa Coal Block. According to the complaint, people who died many years ago have also signed the Gram Sabha resolution in the year 2018. The State Scheduled Caste Commission has completed its hearing. A complaint about the fake proposal of Parsa Coal Block was also made to the Governor by taking out a 300 kilometer padyatra in the year 2021. The Governor had ordered its investigation.
Parsa Coal Block, where cutting of trees is proposed
Parsa Coal Block includes six villages Salhi, Hariharpur, Ghatbarra, Fatehpur and Janardanpur of Surajpur district. Of the total 1252.5 hectares of Parsa Coal Block, 556 hectares is forest land. 285.5 hectare area is small scrub forest and 410 hectare area is non-forest land. Let us tell you that Parsa Coal Block is the second coal block after PKEB, where trees are being cut for mining. The acquisition work for Parsa Coal Block has also not been completed.
