Maha Farmers Clash With Police Over Proposed Airport Plan

The agitated farmers also blocked a busy road in the area by throwing burning tyres on it. (Photo: ANI)

Farmers protesting land acquisition for a proposed airport at Nevali, set vehicles on fire and clashed with police on Thursday, leaving 12 policemen injured, according to ANI.

The agitated farmers also blocked a busy road in the area by throwing burning tyres on it, a police official said.

A Defence spokesperson said the land is owned by the Ministry of Defence and the state government land records certify the same.

The state government had, some years back, started acquiring land in the area to set up the proposed airport which the farmers have been opposing.

However, their protest turned violent as the farmers started agitating simultaneously at several places near Nevali, located about 50 km away from adjoining Mumbai.

The angry protesters also clashed with police and pelted security personnel with stones when they tried to control the situation, the police official said.

The police responded by firing plastic bullets at the protesters to disperse them.

Speaking to ANI, Thane Police Commissioner said that a case of attempted murder will be registered against the protesters.

The situation is normal now. Both curfew and Section 144 will not be imposed in the area.

The aggrieved farmers had earlier this month approached the Bombay High Court with a bunch of petitions challenging acquisition of over 1,600 acre land by the Ministry of Defence for an airport requisitioned during World War II.

According to the petitions, the land was requisitioned by the government through an order passed by the then Thane collector in February 1943, under the Defence of India Rules.

The petitions have challenged the validity of the requisition order.

(with inputs from PTI and ANI)

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