Farmers seeking water release from Maha dam lathicharged

Police in north Maharashtra today lathicharged farmers demanding release of water from a dam, after the protesters pelted stones at cops and some vehicles in the District Collectorate office at Dhule.
At least 22 people, including police personnel, were injured in the stone pelting, police said.
Farmers were protesting outside the Collectorate, seeking discharge of water from canal of Akkalpada dam to nearby villages, they said.
The injured also include farmers and Collectorate employees, added police.
Farmers had protested on April 20 with the same demand and asked the District Collector to finish the work on the last stage of the dam by September 30.

However, concerned officials had informed the farmers that the work could not be completed within the stipulated time.