Raipur
A video showing protesters assaulting a woman police constable during an agitation against the JPL coal mine in Tamnar block of Raigarh district has surfaced on social media. The footage shows the mob chasing the official for nearly half a kilometre before pinning her down in a field and tearing her uniform.
In the 40-second clip, the constable is seen pleading with the protesters to release her. The mob eventually left the spot after threatening her. This incident follows an earlier report of a woman SHO being kicked during the clash on 27 December 2025.
Local residents from 14 affected villages issued a press note condemning the violence and demanding strict action against the culprits. They alleged the violence was a conspiracy to defame their peaceful movement. Meanwhile, the Congress party claimed the incident reflects growing public anger and a lack of trust in the state administration under the current BJP government.
Sequence of Events
The unrest stems from a public hearing held on 8 December 2025 in Dhaurabhatha regarding the Gare Pelma Sector-1 coal block. Residents of 14 villages began a sit-in protest on 12 December.
On 27 December, approximately 300 villagers gathered at Libra Chowk at 9 am and blocked the road. Senior officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), and the Additional Superintendent of Police, reached the spot at 10 am to mediate. While the crowd initially returned to their tents, the situation remained tense.
By afternoon, the crowd swelled to nearly 1,000 people. Despite repeated appeals for peace by the Gharghoda SDM and police officials, the protesters repeatedly blocked the road. At 2:30 pm, the mob breached police barricades and attacked security personnel with stones and sticks. Tamnar Station House Officer (SHO) Kamala Pusam was assaulted by a group of women. Several police personnel sustained injuries and were moved to a hospital for treatment.
Damage to Property
The district administration stated that the mob set fire to a police bus, a jeep, and an ambulance. Other government vehicles were also damaged. The protesters later entered the Jindal Coal Handling Plant, setting fire to a conveyor belt, two tractors, and other machinery. The plant office was also ransacked.
The Raigarh Collector, the Superintendent of Police, and Lailunga MLA Vidyawati Sidar reached the site to bring the situation under control. However, stone-pelting continued in their presence. Following the sustained protest by over 4,000 people, the Jindal management has decided not to proceed with the public hearing for the proposed coal block.
