Chhattisgarh: Villagers and police clash over coal mine project
Things turned tense in Surguja, Chhattisgarh, as villagers clashed with police on Wednesday over the expansion of the SECL coal mine.
Even though land was officially acquired for the Amera extension back in 2016, many people from Parsodi Kala are still saying no to the project—some have even refused compensation because they feel deeply connected to their ancestral land and worry about what's left for future generations.
Violence breaks out; officials urge legal action instead
The protest got heated when villagers reportedly threw stones at police, leading to a lathi-charge and both sides getting hurt.
Videos of the chaos quickly spread across social media.
Extra police have now been sent in to keep things calm, while local authorities are asking villagers to take their concerns to court rather than resorting to violence or blocking mining work.