The police crackdown was targeted at a group of farmers who had been protesting for two months, demanding better payments for land acquired by a state-owned hydroelectric firm, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) for the Chausa Power Plant. The farmers were staging a protest outside the company’s gate, which was disrupting their work.
Police raid Thrashed Farmers
The police crackdown started on the intervening nights of January 10 and 11, when they forcibly entered the house of the protesting farmers and trashed them with canes while they were asleep. “Around midnight while we were asleep in our homes, the police personnel came and started knocking on the doors. When we opened the doors, the police personnel started beating us with batons and also misbehaved with some women,” the farmers claimed. The assault was caught
Hundreds of cops stormed farmers’ homes and brutally beat them up with canes while they were asleep, the police even assaulted the farmer’s family members who were present at the house.
The police then detained three youngsters and transported them to the police station. The assault was captured on video.
Farmer’s Protest Gets Violent –
In Bihar’s Buxar, furious residents vandalized police vehicles in revenge for police brutality against farmers the night before.
In reaction to last night’s police brutality, Buxar locals took to the streets and vandalized police and government vehicles.
“We were protesting against not getting fair compensation,” according to the protestors and source. “Last night, cops raided a farmer’s home, abused women, and detained four people. Because of this company, the police continue to torture us. They also threw stones and opened 20 rounds of fire.”
In 2013, an agreement was made with the SJVN company, which acquired the farmer’s land at market rates for the construction of a thermal power plant. Farmers are now requesting prices based on the year 2022, and they have staged protests in this matter.
Last year, SJVN, formerly known as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, began building a 1320 MW coal power plant in the area. The police said they were attacked first by the farmers, which the farmers denied.
The farmers released CCTV footage showing a number of policemen lounging around outside one of the homes before beginning the assault.
Cellphone footage taken inside one of the houses by those being beaten showed policemen viciously hitting people, including ladies, and smashing down doors.
Why Protest Started?
According to the farmers, Amit Kumar, a senior officer at the Mufassil police station, led the attack in response to a complaint submitted by the SJVN power plant. The police have yet to explain why they went to respond to a report about a demonstration after the farmers had gone home at midnight.
Before establishing the thermal power plant in Chausa, the corporation promised the district’s farmers of quick development and corporate social responsibility money.
Before the midnight raid, the farmers said they had been peacefully demonstrating against the company for a new round of land acquisition for the project at rates established 12 years ago when plots were previously purchased.
The farmers were told that schools, hotels, and livelihood resources would be built in the area, as well as prosperity. Locals will be given job preference, they were told.
However, they stated that the oppression began as soon as the farmers signed the agreement. According to allegations, personnel was recruited from neighboring states, CSR funds were spent on politicians, and officers were handed gifts worth lakhs as a mark of respect.
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