29 hurt, Kalyan farmers fight for land set aside for airbase

Angry farmers in set several police vehicles on fire in Nevali, on the outskirts of Mumbai. (Rishikesh Choudhary)

Updated on: Jun 29, 2017 11:29 AM IST

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Angry farmers in set several police vehicles on fire in Nevali, on the outskirts of Mumbai. (Rishikesh Choudhary)

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The protests began around 9am on Thursday, when farmers from seven villages set a bike on fire. Their demand: They want back the farm land that was taken away for an airbase decades ago. The protesters clashed with police, not allowing them to enter the villages. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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Entry, exit points of the villages and the Nevali Naka, where the violence was taking place, were blocked. Stick-wielding protesters kept the police out for hours. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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A policeman tries to escape as villagers attack him in Nevali. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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The angry farmers even assaulted a truck driver and forced him to park his vehicle across the road to block entry. The residents said they have been demanding to get their land back, but with no response from the government, they were forced to resort to violence. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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Many roads were blocked with burning tyres, rocks and vehicles. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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The farm lands were set aside for the airbase before independence. Decades later, it was one of two spots the government was considering for a defence airbase. In 2014, the government decided to build the base at Panvel, not at the Nevali site. The land has not been returned. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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As the violence spiralled out of control, the local police team called for backup. A 200-strong force, with two SRPF platoons , reached the spot of violence (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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When a police team tried to enter the Bhal village, the mob ran up to a police van and set it ablaze. The police were forced to retreat. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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Cars, bikes, tyres, and even a police van with weapons were set on fire. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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The protest began with villagers setting a bike on fire to get the word out and ask the neighbouring villages to join. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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The violence was brought under control after nearly seven hours. The police formed teams to patrol the villages and clear the roads of rocks and vehicles that were blocking traffic. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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The clash left 15 policemen, 12 villagers and 2 mediapersons injured. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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While the villagers have been demanding that their land be returned, Thursday’s protest was sparked by construction work on the disputed site. (Rishikesh Choudhary/HT PHOTO)