By Admin 
A case of villagers protesting and pelting stones at the police and survey team has come to light during the limestone sampling by Shree Cement Factory in village Kheldi of Kukshi assembly of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The incident took place in Kukshi police station area, where machines and administrative vehicles were also vandalized. The administration is currently trying to control the situation and convince the villagers.
The matter is of 18 February when drilling survey was being conducted to check the availability of selected stone in villages Talawadi, Takari, Bamanda Baidi, Mogra, Bhimpura and Khedli under Kukshi police station of Dhar district. Machines and staff from Shree Cement Factory had reached the village along with the police force for sampling.
The villagers fear that after the survey the land will be handed over to the cement factory. A large number of people gathered in this protest and expressed anger against the administration. Within no time, angry villagers pelted stones at the vehicles of police and administrative officials.
How did the controversy escalate?
According to the information, to search for limestone, drilling was being done in the area to check how much area and to what depth the limestone was present. As a precautionary measure, police forces from several police stations were deployed on the spot.
The villagers strongly protested against the survey and raised slogans against the administration and the police. Incidents of stone pelting and vandalism of vehicles came to light. However, the police personnel did not resort to lathicharge despite the circumstances. SDM Pramod Gurjar said that this situation arose due to opposition to the sampling work. The administration has given advice to the villagers and currently there is peace in the area. The police has not given official information regarding the registration of the case, while some officers are maintaining distance from the media.
Work will be done only on government land – Administration
Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra had earlier organized a camp in the Bagh area and discussed with the villagers. He had assured that the work would be done only on government land and no action would be taken on private land without consent. Despite this the villagers are opposing the survey. During the incident, Jayas leader Raviraj Baghel also reached among the villagers and talked about fighting a legal battle. The administration and police are continuously communicating and trying to normalize the situation.
There will be no force on water, forest and land – Congress
At the same time, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar tweeted that the water and forest land of tribals will not be forcibly taken away. He wrote – “In the villages of Gandhwani, Kukshi and Jobat assembly constituencies of Dhar and Alirajpur district, limestone drilling for the cement factory is being done without the permission and under the pressure of the villagers. This is a direct attack on the tribal rights. I fully support the movement of the villagers. The Congress Party stands firmly with them in the fight for the rights of the tribals. This fight will be fought from the road to the House. The government should answer – at whose behest this injustice is being done.” Is it?”