Vicious Attack

At about 6 pm on 22 May, Sunilam, Aradhana Bhargava and several leaders and activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS) were viciously attacked by the goons of Adani Power Limited (APL) in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh (mP). They were set upon on the Narsinghpur Road near Bhulamoh gaon by 15-16 goons of Adani. Their car was smashed and they were brutally beaten. Sunilam has sustained a head injury and has fractures in both arms. Aradhana Bhargava too has been hurt. The superintendent of police, though informed immediately, did not take action.

APL has been assigned the contract for setting up a 1,320 MW coal-based thermal power plant in Chhindwara. The water for the project will be drawn from the Pench river on which the Pench Diversion Project is planned to be completed by 2012-13. While the land on which the thermal power project is planned was acquired by the mp government 24 years ago, it had not taken possession. As a result, the villagers were continuing to farm the land. Two years ago, the villagers were again served notice, and have since been agitating against the project as they do not want to give up their land.