Firing on people protesting against hydel project in HP

Shimla, Dec 9 (UNI) Several people and policemen were injured in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh after police fired several rounds in the air, lobbed tear gas shells and baton-charged people, protesting against the setting up of the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtoo hydel project in the district today.

Over two dozen police officials and an equal number of local people were injured during the one-hour clash between them against the setting up on the project, district SP Arvind Sharda told UNI over the telephone from Rekong Peo.

Today's police action against the protesters followed a decision to hold prayers to local deity, Maheshwarji Devta at one of the construction sites, which had been declared out of bound by the district administration, who had clamped Section 144.

Mr Sharda said over 1,500 to 2,000 people, including women, accompanying the Devta attempted to breach the cordon at the site following which the police resorted to mild baton charge to disperse them.

The police were forced to lob tear gas shells and fire first in the air and later at the protesters after they starting pelting stones at the policemen, injuring them in the melee, he said.

He said about two dozen policemen and Nichar SDM were injured in the stone-pelting incident.

Earlier, the Devta had 'directed' the locals to continue their protest against the construction of the project for another three days after which it would decide its future course of action following the state chief minister refusal to stop construction at the sites.

However, Karcham Wangtoo Project Action Committee spokesman, requesting anonymity, told UNI that the police launched unprovoked baton-charge and firing at the peaceful protesters who were only following the instructions of a local deity.

MORE UNI AS HS PA GC1953