Hundreds of villagers, including women, scuffled with police at Balarampur village under Sadar block in the district on Saturday while protesting against felling of trees in a nearby forest for setting up of a beer factory.
The incident took place when the district administration began the process of tree felling to acquire land for the proposed liquor plant.
Though a number of platoons of police forces were deployed at the site, the villagers put up tough resistance in a bid to stop the tree cutting process.
Besides, the agitating women were also seen wrapping their arms around the trees in an effort to prevent the officials from felling the trees.
Sources said a land in the forest area has been allocated to a liquor company by the IDCO for setting up of a beer factory. In the morning, police and the district Collector visited the site for acquisition of land. After getting information, hundreds of men and women of the village rushed to the spot holding sticks to protest and had a faceoff with the police.
Later, the police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the mob. They also detained more than 20 villagers. The locals alleged that they have not been informed about setting of the beer factory and no Palli Sabha has been held for the purpose. They warned that they would continue opposing setting of the factory.
Sources said the forest houses around 958 big trees of various species, out of which more than 700 trees were cut on the day.