Mumbai: A farmers’ protest against land acquisition by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) turned violent on the Thane-Badlapur Highway as several people including 12 policemen were injured Thursday. At least six police vehicles were also set on fire by the protesters.
Though the protests started peacefully and the Maharashtra government deployed police to maintain law and order, the agitation grew as farmers from 17 villages held protests at 10 spots and blocked traffic.
When the police tried to disperse the crowds, farmers threw stones at them and later, a police official said that plastic bullets had to be used since policemen were being attacked.
Additional forces, including riot control police have been rushed to the spot to control the situation.
Hundreds of farmers and their families who had come out on the streets complained that the Indian Navy was constructing a peripheral wall around a 647-hectare area that they claimed belong to them. A British-era aerodrome once stood on the land which was encroached upon and farmers had been cultivating the land for several years.
The farmers had appealed to the authorities to hand over the land to them.
However, Commander Rahul Sinha, Chief PRO of the Ministry of Defence said, “The land in reference is owned by the MoD/Indian Navy and the state government land records certify the same. The Navy is constructing a peripheral boundary wall to protect and safeguard defence land from further encroachment.
“The Maharashtra government is fully aware of the subject case and is providing police protection and support from state/district administration and revenue authorities.”
He added that the records held with the Defence Estate Officer, Mumbai indicated that the land was acquired by the MoD.
Farmers are presently on the boil due to financial losses forcing thousands of them across the country to commit suicide. Only recently, the state government had assured the protesting farming community of a loan waiver after a 10-day agitation.
