At least 10 farmers from various villages fearing submergence due to proposed Mallanna Sagar irrigation project were injured in baton charge by police near Yerravalli village in Medak district today.
The police also lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the mob after they pelted them with stones.
Trouble started when villagers, while marching towards inter-state highway, were stopped by police near Yerravalli village in Kondapak mandal, leading to heated arguments, following which a protester allegedly attempted self- immolation.
A police officer said they first resorted to baton charge after agitators hurled stones at them and later fired tear gas shells to quell the protest.
The officer said at least ten persons, including three women, suffered injuries in baton charge, and were admitted in hospital.
He denied reports that police fired in air to control the unrest.
The situation is under control now, police said.
Meanwhile, Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has appealed people and police to exercise restraint, saying, "people should not fall into the trap of Opposition parties".
The TRS government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao has proposed to construct Malanna Sagar irrigation project at Yetigadda Kishtapur village in Kondapak mandal, for which the government is acquiring 12,000 acres of land.
Around 14 villages are likely to go under water due to the project.
Once completed, the project, estimated to cost Rs 9800 crore, would irrigate 12 lakh acres of land in Medak, Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts.
However, villagers are resisting acquisition of land and are demanding compensation under the Land Acquisition Act 2013.
The intermittent protests against the project have been going on for the last 50 days.
Last week, a 73-year-old farmer, B Narasaiah, hailing from Pallepahad village, had committed suicide allegedly against the land acquisition for the project.
