West Bengal farmers protest power project expansion
By IANSWednesday, August 19, 2009
KOLKATA - At least 15 people were injured, including seven policemen, as hundreds of farmers clashed with cops in West Bengal’s Burdwan district Wednesday over the proposed expansion of a power plant project by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).
A group of agitators, under the banner of Trinamool Congress-backed Krishi Jami Raksha Committee (Save Farmland Committee), came out in Andal village and tried to stop the work at the proposed site.
Police baton charged the mob as angry protesters pelted stones at them. Three police vehicles were also set on fire by the irate mob.
Eight villagers were injured, police said.
“Twelve people have been arrested,” district additional police superintendent (Durgapur) Utpal Naskar said.
He said seven policemen were also wounded in the clash.
