Hundreds of farmers protested along the Thane-Badlapur highway in Maharashtra on Thursday against land acquisition by the Ministry of Defence, The Times of India reported.
Protestors wielding sticks blocked the Thane-Badlapur highway, burning tyres and setting a police van on fire. Twenty-nine people were injured, including 15 policemen, Times of India said. To control the mob, police had to use pellet guns.
“Some of our policemen suffered injuries while trying to control the situation,” an officer said according to the Hindustan Times. The violent protests in Nevali village, which began at around 8 am, came in control later in the day.
The Defence Ministry issued a statement on the violence, reported the Times of India. “[The] Land is owned by the ministry of defence and Indian Navy, and the state government’s land records certify the same. The land was acquired by ministry of defence. The Navy is constructing a peripheral boundary wall to protect and safeguard defence land from further encroachment. The Maharashtra govt is fully aware of the subject case and is providing police protection and support from state and district administration and revenue authorities,” said Commander Rahul Sinha, Chief Public Relations Officer (Defence), Mumbai.
The government plans to turn an abandoned World War II airbase in Naveli into an international airport, about 45 km northeast of Mumbai, which the locals are protesting against, Hindustan Times reported.
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