MP police evicts 'Jal Satyagrahis', but more pour in

Barely a couple of hours after police evicted protesters from a 'Jal Satyagraha' on Wednesday, about 50 persons from villages near Khardana entered the Narmada river

demanding reduction of the Indira Sagar dam height and immediate resolution of other issues.

Around 50 persons entered the river after police arrested over 100 protesters on Wednesday morning who were on a 'Jal Satyagraha' demanding land as compensation and reduction of height of the Indira Sagar dam in Khardana from 262 metres to 260.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kantilal Bhuria and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly, Ajay Singh were also present at the protest site. The Congress was against the police crack down on the 'satyagrahis', Bhuria told reporters adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state cannot be allowed to deal with the protest in such a fashion.

The issue would be raised during the gherao of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence on September 20 and the Congress would also bring up the matter to the notice of the higher-ups in Delhi, Bhuria said, who also spent some time in water along with the protesters.

Earlier, the district collector of Khardana, where prohibitory orders were also imposed, Commissioner and senior police officials tried to persuade the protesters to give up their agitation, but when they refused to budge, police pulled them out of the water.

The police arrested Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Chittarupa Palit and over 100 protesters. This came two days after a similar protest was called off in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh following an assurance from the state government that the affected villagers would be given land as compensation and the height of Omkareshwar Dam would be reduced.

However, the protesters at Khardana have stuck to their demands and said they would continue with their agitation.

Some protesters whose health condition worsened after standing in neck-deep water for long hours, were taken to hospital.