Telangana – Hyderabad: Tensions flared in Dilawarpur, a village in Telangana’s Nirmal district, as protests against the establishment of an ethanol factory turned violent on Wednesday, continuing for a second consecutive day. Villagers blocked the Nirmal-Bhainsa national highway, with women protestors threatening suicide by holding bottles of pesticides in an effort to halt the factory’s construction.
The protests began early in the morning as villagers from the Dilawarpur mandal, particularly from the surrounding villages, gathered to voice their opposition to the private ethanol plant. Holding placards and shouting slogans, they marched through the village and then sat on the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill. The demonstrators made it clear that they would not back down until the government shifted the factory away from their agricultural land.
At one point, the protests turned violent when a group of protestors clashed with police officers. Several police personnel were injured in the scuffle. Authorities confirmed that the situation escalated quickly, with protestors attacking law enforcement as they tried to disperse the crowd.
The villagers have raised concerns that the ethanol plant will severely impact their livelihood by damaging crops, polluting the environment, and altering the local agricultural landscape. They also allege that local public representatives have failed to take a stand against the factory and have refused to support their movement.
“We are ready to sacrifice everything, even our lives, to prevent this factory from being built here,” one of the protestors said, holding up a bottle of pesticide. “This plant will ruin our farms and our future.”
The protests have continued without respite. On Tuesday evening, a group of villagers reportedly attempted to attack Nirmal’s Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Ratna Kalyani, who had arrived to mediate in the dispute. The protestors also vandalized her vehicle, which was later set on fire by unidentified individuals. The fire was quickly extinguished by the police.
As RDO Ratna Kalyani tried to engage with the protesters, they insisted that only the District Collector could address their demands. Additionally, they called for the reinstatement of a teacher who had been suspended for showing support to their cause. Tensions reached a boiling point when Kalyani attempted to leave the area after the unsuccessful talks. Protestors attempted to block her vehicle, and during the chaos, Kalyani fainted due to a drop in her blood pressure. She was promptly rushed to a local hospital in Nirmal by the police vehicle of Superintendent of Police Dr. Janaki Sharmila.
The damage to the RDO’s vehicle and the violence surrounding the protest have led to police action. Authorities have registered cases against 23 villagers for the vandalism of the RDO’s vehicle. While the police worked to restore order, the protestors resumed their sit-in on the highway on Wednesday morning, vowing to continue their agitation until their demands were met.
By 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the police had managed to clear the highway and restore normal traffic flow. However, the tense standoff in the village continued as protestors remained defiant. The government’s response to the escalating situation is expected to be a key factor in whether the protests will subside or intensify.
The ongoing unrest has raised questions about the relationship between industrial development and the concerns of local communities, particularly those dependent on agriculture. As the protests show no sign of letting up, the Telangana government faces mounting pressure to address the villagers’ grievances and find a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.