25 injured as farmers, cops clash over airport plan near Mumbai

Hundreds of angry farmers protesting against a proposed international airport on the outskirts of Mumbai held up traffic, clashed with police and burned down four police vehicles on Thursday.

At least 25 people —12 policemen, 12 locals and two mediapersons — were injured in the clash.

Local resentment had been building against plans to turn an abandoned World War II airbase into an international airport at Nevali, about 45 km northeast of 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 police when they tried to disperse the crowd. “Some of our policemen suffered injuries while trying to control the situation,” said an officer.

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.

“I decided to help them and suddenly there was a shootout by police. The firing caused an injury on my chest and leg. I was in severe pain after the incident,” 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.

Some of the injured were rushed to a private hospital in Kalyan, while two locals said to be severely injured were taken to other hospitals in Thane.

THE VIOLENT SITUATION IN NEVALI VILLAGE — WHICH STARTED AROUND 8 AM — CAME UNDER CONTROL LATER IN THE DAY.