Khandwa: Jal Satyagraha heading for showdown, police force deployed
The 29-day-old Jal Satyagraha by farmers on the backwaters of Omakareshwar dam at Ghogalgaon is heading for a showdown between administration and agitating farmers after deployment of large police force in the area.
The 29-day-old Jal Satyagraha by farmers on the backwaters of Omakareshwar dam at Ghogalgaon is heading for a showdown between administration and agitating farmers after deployment of large police force in the area.
The police and administration officials are frequently visiting the satyagraha site and taking stock of the situation.
Administration has also placed half a dozen boats in the water and police patrolled the entire area on boats.
On Saturday, hundreds of agitators from Kamenkheda, Ekhand Toki and even AAP workers from Khandwa gathered at the site of agitation as the news spread up that the administration wants to end the satyagraha forcefully.
Narmada Bacho Andolan (NBA) senior activist Alok Agrawal apprehended that police might use force to end the satyagraha in days to come.
"Heavy police force has been deployed near Hattiya Baba village, some 10 km from Ghogalgaon and around 5-6 boats were also placed in water around Ekhand, Kamenkheda and Ghogalgaon in which they carried out reconnaissance thought the day," said Agrawal.
Ajay Bharti, one of the residents of Ghogalgaon, told Hindustan Times that for the last two days, police and administration officials were coming to Ghogalgaon and monitoring the situation.
He said that now a team of doctors was also coming regularly and examining the Satyagrahis.
"The condition of the agitators is deteriorating day by day. Blood is coming from the feet of some of them and they are not able to walk," said Bharti.
Collector-in-charge of Khandwa Amit Tomar, however denied that police has been deployed to evict the agitators.
"The police force has been deployed in area of Ghaogalgaon because a farmers' convention scheduled on May 9," he said.
However, the convention has been deferred till May 12 and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh will address the convention.
The 30-odd Jal Satyagrahis of Ghogalgaon, who were standing in the backwater of Omkareshwar dam since April 11, are unanimous in their view that the state government was ignoring them.
They are opposing government's decision to raise the water level to 191 metres from 189 meters.