Panna: During a joint forest department-officials and police anti-encroachment drive in Peraha village under a forest range in Ajaygarh district in Madhya Pradesh, a pitched battle between villagers erupted. Over 20 villagers and two forest staff members were reportedly injured in the incident, some of whom were required to see a doctor for their injuries.
The injuries were treated at their level and the injured were sent to the district hospitals at Panna and Ajaygarh. After the clash, the administration turned things around, and the police started taking and documenting statement from each side as part of the lawsuits.
Dispute Over 30 Hectares of Forest Land
The available data shows that tillage area in the forest of Peraha village had been under cultivation for a long time by Patel community around 30 hectares of forest. The previous efforts to take down the said encroachment were said to have gone nowhere due to land dispute issues.
This one, the forest department had started an operation in the presence of officers of the Chhatarpur and Panna ranges, backed by a huge police force. The farmers were reportedly angered by the officials who began plantation work and were pacified by clearing land upon efforts at a violent confrontation.
One of the injured villagers, Vinod Patel, claimed the government launched the operation early today without warning the villagers. He also asserted that women and other villagers were beaten on with sticks when they protested.
This left Sona Patel, Vinod Patel, Dinesh Patel, Radha Patel and Rajneesh Patel injured, it is reported.
Forest Department Reports Injuries to Two Personnel
The forest department has also given a separate version of the incident claiming that the forest officers were attacked by the villagers. Basant Lala Verma, a forest guard stationed at Devendranagar and forest officer Bharti Kumari at Powai range were injured in the fight.
The area is now under the control of authorities. Police are taking both parties’ statements and are continuing their legal action to investigate the situation.
The inquiry is likely to include details of the history of the eviction drive and the villagers’ resistance, as well as what the Forest Department say happened on the day of the alleged attack.