Many hurt in police action at dam site in MP

Khargone, MP, May 16 (UNI) About 40 people were allegedly injured today after police used force to disperse demonstrators protesting against blasting at a dam under construction over the Narmada in this Maheshwar district.

Five police personnel were hurt in stone-pelting. While the blasting was taking place, roughly 300 people from nearby Lepa village gathered at the site and demanded that the blasting be stopped. They alleged that blasting caused cracks in their houses.

The demonstrators began pelting stones. Police allegedly canecharged the mob and also lobbed tear-gas shells. A severely-injured pregnant woman was among two persons hospitalised at Kasrawad town.

''Police rained blows on peaceful demonstrators,'' alleged NBA leader Alok Agarwal.

Denying a canecharge, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Singh Kushwah added that only those people creating a hurdle in dam work were stopped.

''Tear gas was used to bring the mob under control and a few persons might have been hurt in the ensuing stampede,'' the officer added.

UNI