Villagers protesting against the proposed steel plant of Tatas in Bastar brutally assaulted an administrative offier when he went to an affected village to start project work.
The official, Naib Tehsildar P R Magaria, suffered head injuries and was admitted to a government hospital in Jagdalpur, the divisional headquarters of Bastar. Magaria is posted at Lohandiguda development block.
The proposed 5.5 million tonne per annum (mtpa) Integrated Greenfield Steel Plant of Tata Steel is coming up in the area. The company would be requiring 2,160 hectares spread over 10 villages, affecting some 1,707 people possessing 1764.61 hectares.
Sources said that Magaria this morning reached Dhuragaon, one of the affected villages, to start land levelling work with heavy construction equipment. The Tata steel is setting up a training institute there, a senior administration official said. Large number of villagers gathered at the spot and attacked the official and workers. Sources said the villagers were armed with lathis and iron-rods. They later fled the spot. At the government hospital senior officials including Collector M S Paraste enquired about his health. Civil Surgeon of Jagdalpur P N Tiwari said Magaria was out of danger.
Lohandiguda police station has lodged a case against unidentified villagers in connection with the incident. A police party led by Additional Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Garg has left for Lohandiguda to assess the situation.