Maha farmers clash with cops over land

MUMBAI: Hundreds of angry farmers protesting against a proposed defence airport on the outskirts of Mumbai held up traffic, clashed with the police and burned down their four vehicles on Thursday. At least 26 people —12 policemen, 12 locals and two mediapersons — were injured in the violence.

Resentment had been building against plans to turn an abandoned World War II airbase into a defence airport at Nevali, 45 km from Mumbai. But Thursday’s protests took an unexpected violent turn, as farmers whose land had been acquired for the project attacked police personnel.

TV images showed stick-wielding protesters blocking a busy local road with burning tyres and setting a police van on fire. They clashed with the police when they tried to disperse the crowd.

“Some of our policemen suffered injuries while trying to control the situation,” said an officer who did not wish to be named. An assistant police commissioner was among the injured.

Jagdish Mhatre, a 33-year-old teacher who was walking towards Bhal village after school duty, said he saw several women protesters being lathi-charged by police. “They were lying down on the street. I decided to help them and suddenly there was a shootout by the police. The firing caused injury on my chest and leg. I was in severe pain,” he said. “My father is also a farmer in the village. We have been suffering a lot due to the land row,” he added.

Many locals and farmers, including women, were protesting against the proposed plan of a defence airport at Nevali.

“We have been protesting silently (for some time). Since the government failed to take our demands into consideration, we had to protest violently. People living in the village don’t have their own land, they have to live on rent,” said Hemant Bhal, a resident of Bhal village.

“I was also a part of the protest. I suffered an injury on my hand due to the firing. People started running all of a sudden as police started firing,” said 23-year-old Akhil Sorkhate, another injured.

The violent situation in Nevali village — which started around 8 am — came under control later in the day. Senior police officials from Thane, who rushed to the spot, requested additional police force as a backup. Police were present in large numbers in the area to ensure that the situation is under control.

PROTESTS TOOK A VIOLENT TURN WHEN FARMERS WHOSE LAND HAD BEEN ACQUIRED FOR DEFENCE AIRPORT PROJECT TORCHED POLICE VEHICLES, INJURING AT LEAST 26