Stone-pelting over proposed thermal plant; 6 policemen injured

Six policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were injured today when a mob pelted stones on them during a protest against a proposed thermal plant in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

The incident took place before noon in Ragampet mandal of the district when cops tried to prevent the protesters from attacking people, who had gathered there for an awareness programme on the 100-MW coal thermal project, police said.

Irked agitators indulged in a heavy stone pelting injuring half-a-dozen policemen, including Peddapauram DSP Kumar in the incident. A few private buses ferrying the people to the venue at Singampallivillage in the mandal, were also attacked. Six buses of a local Engineering College passing through the area were also damaged, police said.

As the situation went out of control, security personnel fired three rounds in the air to quell violence. Ten persons were also picked up from the spot. Additional police force from Rajahmundry and Peddapuram has been deployed in the area. The DSP said that the situation was tense but under control.

The awareness camp was held for company personnel of the plant to clear doubts related to pollution and possible health hazards if the plant is set up in the mandal. Recently a public hearing on the proposed plant by district collector Neetu Kumari Prasad was also disrupted resulting in its postponement.