30 policemen injured in stone pelting by villagers protesting coal mining
The incident occurred in Parsodi Kala village where villagers have been opposing the Amera opencast mine, a 1.0 MTPA project under SECL – a subsidiary company of Coal India Limited – situated in Bishrampur area.
MORE THAN 30 policemen suffered injuries after villagers, protesting against coal mining by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), pelted the security cover provided to the mining team with stones in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district Wednesday afternoon.
Police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas shelling to disperse the crowd, in which some villagers were injured as well. By evening police managed to disperse the crowd but mining operations were halted for the day. Officials said the operations will resume Thursday.
The incident occurred in Parsodi Kala village where villagers have been opposing the Amera opencast mine, a 1.0 MTPA project under SECL – a subsidiary company of Coal India Limited – situated in Bishrampur area.
Additional District Collector Sunil Nayak said, “The land acquisition process in the village was completed. But villagers do not want to give the land for mining. Some have taken compensation but several have not… and they now creating obstacles in coal mining.”
Leelavati, one of the protesters from Parsodi Kala, told reporters that her children and grandchildren will have to beg if their land is taken for mining. “The soil of our village land is very dear to us and we do not want to give it away. SECL wants to dig it for minerals. Where do we go ? My husband’s grandfather and father did farming and now I am using it for farming to sustain for livelihood. Where will my children and grandchildren go? … I will not allow administration to take my land,” she said.
IGP (Surguja range) Deepak Kumar Jha told The Indian Express that over 30 policemen suffered injuries in the stone pelting.
“We will hold discussions with the villagers again tomorrow to ensure they do not create any trouble. We will be providing adequate security cover on Thursday to ensure the mining work is not disrupted. We are in the process of registering an FIR on those who attacked police,” he said.
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According to a press statement issued by SECL, the land required for the mine falling in the villages of the Parsodikala, Amera, Puhputra and Katkona to an extent of 664.184 Ha has been acquired in 2001 and after availing possession of a part of the acquired land the mining operations commenced in 2011.
“Production was continued till 2019 and had to be suspended on account of the stiff resistance of certain villagers demanding benefits beyond the statutory/approved norms. The mine was restarted in the year 2024 after possessing additional land with the intervention of State Administration and having paid the due compensation and R&R benefits to the Project Affected Persons (PAPs). Since then, the process of taking possession of the land is being carried out in phases, and so far, land compensation to a tune of around Rs 10 crores has been disbursed to the PAPs of Parsodikala village and employment is being provided as per the modalities agreed in the District R&R Committee involving the villagers.”
“As the mine progressed towards Parsodikala village, the landowners instigated by miscreants with vested interests, started agitation denying to vacate their land which has been acquired under Coal Bearing (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957. They also indulged in violent activities eventuating the suspension of mine operation from 08-11-2025. The matter has been taken up with the District and State Administration soliciting their intervention,” the statement said.
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
