SURAJPUR: Over 24 police personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajesh Joshi, sustained injuries after villagers pelted stones at a police team during a land acquisition dispute involving South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Surajpur district on Friday.
The violence broke out when police reached Dharampur village under Pratappur police station limits to arrest suspects linked to an earlier clash over the mining project.
Villagers resisted the arrests, staged a demonstration, and attempted to push back the police force. At least one individual wielded an iron weapon. The confrontation escalated into heavy stone-pelting, causing head and body injuries to several officers, including female personnel.
Emergency teams rushed all injured personnel to the hospital for medical treatment.
The dispute stems from SECL’s proposed land acquisition in the Madannagar-Dharampur belt of Pratappur. Local residents have opposed the project for months, demanding alternative land in exchange for their property rather than cash compensation.
The latest clash follows an incident in which villagers allegedly held a land survey team hostage. Administrative officials and a police contingent arrived at Dharampur on Friday to detain key suspects.
Protests intensified after police arrested a local sarpanch’s son. Large crowds gathered at the spot and began hurling stones at the police team.
Authorities have deployed reinforcement forces from Surajpur and neighbouring districts to maintain law and order. Senior administrative and police officials remain present at the site to monitor security across the Madannagar-Dharampur belt.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yogesh Devangan confirmed the extent of the casualties during the clash.
“Over 24 police personnel suffered injuries after villagers pelted stones at the team during the land dispute. The injured are receiving treatment at the hospital. Adequate security forces remain on the ground, and legal proceedings have begun,” ASP Devangan said.
