The farmers’ protest turned violent on Wednesday, with hundreds of protesters storming the under-construction factory site of Dune Ethanol Private Limited in Rathikheda village. They allegedly broke down the company’s boundary wall.
राजस्थान: हनुमानगढ़ जिले में एथेनॉल कारखाने के विरोध किसानों के प्रदर्शन ने लिया हिंसक रूप, भाजपा सरकार पर भड़के, इंटरनेट सेवाएं बंद
Tensions remained high on Thursday as farmers protested against a private company’s proposed ethanol plant in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district. Farmers and local leaders said they would continue their protests against the under-construction ethanol plant until their demands were met.
Farmers began gathering at a Gurudwara near the protest site in Tibbi on Thursday morning, while internet services remained suspended in the area for the second consecutive day. Approximately 30 families reportedly fled their homes in the vicinity of the plant out of fear.
Farmers’ protests turned violent on Wednesday, with hundreds of protesters storming the under-construction Dune Ethanol Private Limited plant site in Rathikheda village. They allegedly vandalized the company’s boundary wall and set fire to its office and several vehicles parked there.
Police used force to disperse the protesters, leading to clashes between the two sides. Police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas shelling. Angry farmers allegedly set fire to more than a dozen vehicles, including a police jeep and several other vehicles. More than 50 people, including women, were injured during the protest.
Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia suffered a head injury during the lathicharge and was taken to Hanumangarh District Hospital. Hanumangarh District Magistrate Dr. Khushal Yadav told reporters on Thursday that all necessary approvals have been obtained for the proposed ethanol factory.
Yadav said, “This factory is part of the 2022 project, which was approved during the ‘Rising Rajasthan Summit.’ All necessary permissions, from land conversion to the State Pollution Control Board, have been granted.”
He added that although permission was granted for a peaceful mahapanchayat, some anti-social elements violated prohibitory orders and marched towards the factory.
The official said, “Some people took the law into their own hands. Action is being taken against those involved. Everyone is appealed to maintain peace and not resort to violence.”
Yadav stated that there are several constitutional avenues for resolving grievances, and if there are any doubts, they can be resolved legally and constitutionally, but taking the law into one’s own hands could have been avoided.
Additional police, RAC, and Home Guard personnel have been deployed in Tibbi and Rathikheda villages. Shops opened on Thursday, and the situation appeared calm, but farmers continued to gather at the Gurudwara. A farmers’ meeting is scheduled for the afternoon to decide on further action.
Protesters, including injured women, spent the night at the Gurudwara Singh Sabha. Leaders of the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and several farmers’ organizations from Haryana and Punjab are supporting the protest.
Ravjot Singh, leader of the Factory Hatao Sangharsh Samiti, claimed, “More than 70 people, including women, were injured in the clash. More than 100 farmers stayed at the Gurudwara overnight, and more are arriving this morning.”
Congress leader Shabnam Godara said that the administration is solely responsible for the violence. He said, “The farmers only asked for a written assurance that construction would be stopped. Instead of addressing their legitimate concerns, the administration provoked them. They only misled the people by talking about employment promises.”
Godara said the farmers will continue their agitation until their demands are met.
Farmer organizations say the proposed factory has not received environmental clearance. They said work will not be allowed to proceed without this clearance and the consent of local people.
Meanwhile, Dune Ethanol Private Limited said the project will support the central government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program.
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