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Mining project becomes site of violent protest in Chhattisgarh; cops injured, vehicles torched

The mob, according to the police, swelled and became violent when police tried to clear the road, leading to stone pelting and torching of police vehicles.

3 min readRaigarhDec 28, 2025 07:38 AM IST

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According to police, tensions escalated at the Jindal Coal Handling Plant (CHP) chowk in Libra village, where protests and road blockade have been underway since December 12.

An ongoing protest against a coal mining project in the Tamnar block of Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district turned violent Saturday, with incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism and arson.

According to police, tensions escalated at the Jindal Coal Handling Plant (CHP) chowk in Libra village, where protests and road blockade have been underway since December 12. Villagers from 14 affected villages under the (Gare Pelma) Sector-I coal block in Tamnar area have been staging a sit-in protest at CHP chowk in Libra village since December 12 against a public hearing held for the project on December 8 at Dhaurabhatha, a statement issued by the district administration said.

The mob, according to the police, swelled and became violent when police tried to clear the road, leading to stone pelting and torching of police vehicles.

Eight policemen, including a local SDPO, Anil Vishwakarma, a local SHO and a constable, are stated to have been injured in the violence. Raigarh Collector Mayank Chaturvedi blamed “antisocial elements” for provoking the crowd, “leading to a stone-pelting incident that injured several police personnel”.

“The mob, which grew from 300 to 1,000, went on a rampage. They torched a police bus, a jeep and an ambulance. Several policemen were attacked with sticks and stones. Following this, the crowd stormed the Jindal CHP, setting fire to a conveyor belt, two tractors, and other vehicles, while also vandalising the office premises,” a policeman said.

However, locals accused the police of a lathi charge. “The crowd got violent because the police first lathi charged women who were sitting on the road stopping mining related vehicles,” one protester said. “One old woman’s hand was injured because a cop pulled her up. Later, the crowd swelled up and got out of control.”

Villagers from 14 affected villages under the (Gare Pelma) Sector-I coal block in Tamnar area have been staging a sit-in protest at CHP chowk in Libra village since December 12 against a public hearing held for the project on December 8 at Dhaurabhatha, a statement issued by the district administration said.

“Since they didn’t have orders to retaliate, the officers were forced to retreat for their own safety. Two hours later, we made two further attempts to engage in dialogue. During a physical approach to meet with the group, the crowd became aggressive, resumed stone-pelting, and pursued our team. The mob appears to be leaderless. We are currently attempting to communicate with local villagers,” he told the media, adding that some of the injured have been shifted to Raigarh for treatment.

Jayprakash S Naidu

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

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