Kakinada: Over 100 people were injured when villagers opposing
a proposed power plant at Bikkavolu in East Godavari district of Andhra
Pradesh clashed with police during the public hearing near in Kakinada
on Wednesday, police said.
People from at least 12 villages in the vicinity are opposing the
proposed 100-MW captive power plant of KPR Fertilisers at Bikkavolu,
apprehending pollution and damage to crops.
The clash started when a team of district officials, led by
Collector Neethu Kumary, tried to initiate the hearing on the
contentious issue near Donthamuru village.
Angry villagers pelted police with stones who
retaliated with lathicharge and chased protesters from the venue. "Many
suffered bleeding injuries and a few fell unconscious in the melee", a
police officer said.
The collector and other officials were whisked to safety by
police as the mob tried to attack them, police said adding the public
hearing was suspended in the wake of the violence.
People of Donthamuru, Bhavaram and thirty other villages in
vicinity had gathered in large numbers since early morning, holding
placards in protest of the setting up of the plant, police said.
Sensing trouble, the district administration also deployed heavy
police security to avoid any untoward incident. "Despite conciliatory
efforts of the collector and top police officials, the mob went berserk
and obstructed the public hearing", a district official said.
At least three media persons were also injured in the stone
pelting and their OB vans damaged. According to police, eighty people
were arrested in connection with the violence and the situation is under
control.
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