Protest against ethanol project in Nirmal: Villagers express anger over cases

Dasarath Reddy, a resident from Dilawarpur said cases were booked against the villagers on different dates, the latest being December 7.

Nirmal: Villagers expressed anger against the State government for booking cases against 122 persons including 19 women from Dilawarpur mandal centre and Gundampalli villages on the charges of attempt to murder, vandalising the vehicle of Nirmal RDO Rathna Kalyani, detaining her and obstructing to her duties during a protest against the establishment of an ethanol project on November 26.

Dasarath Reddy, a resident from Dilawarpur said cases were booked against the villagers on different dates, the latest being December 7. He opined that it was unfair for the police to register cases against farmers for staging protest against the ethanol manufacturer as Collector Abhilasha Abhinav and SP Janaki Sharmila had assured to strike off the cases.

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The villagers warned that they would intensify a stir against the government if the cases were not withdrawn. They demanded that the government keep its word with regard to withdrawal of the cases and stop registered cases against the participants. They recalled that they withdrew their protest when Abhilasha announced that the project was kept under abeyance and the work was halted as per instructions of the government.

On November 27, farmers agreed to withdraw their protest against the establishment of an ethanol factory, following an order issued by Collector Abhilasha Abhinav and her assurance to halt the work on the project. A delegation of farmers held consultations with the Collector in Collectorate.

On November 26 evening, the protest turned violent when some agitators reportedly damaged the vehicle of RDO Kalyani who held consultations with the farmers during a sit-in on NH 61 at Dilawarpur mandal centre. They stopped her vehicle. They then threw fire on the vehicle. However, police present at the spot extinguished the fire. Kalyani was shifted to a hospital in Nirmal town when she fainted at 9.30 pm.