The united Opposition’s plan to cash in on locals’ protest against Government in the NTPC coal mines project at Badkagaon, Hazaribagh ended up without much hype here on Thursday. Senior leaders of almost all Opposition parties including JVM chief Babulal Marandi, Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay and others reached Badkagaon police station to court arrest in the case lodged by NTPC coal mines project against them in Barkagaon police station some ten days ago but police refused to arrest them.
As per their announced programme former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, former MP of Hazaribagh Bhuvneshwar Prasad Mehta, RJD state president Gautam Sagar Rana, CPI State general secretary KD Singh, congress MlA from Barkagaon Nirmala Devi, JDU state general secretary Bateshwar Prasad Mehta along with more than three thousand supporters and party workers reached Badkagaon police station for their arrest but were stopped in front of the police station gate.
Extra forces were deployed there as the district and police administration had converted the area as a prohibited area. DSP Pardeep Paul Kachchhap came to talk with the leaders and said that police is investigating the matter, and after investigation next step will be taken. The leader demanded dismissal of the cases no.134, 134b and 136 on which Kachhap said that it will depend on the outcome of the investigation.
For more than three hours the supporters and party workers blocked the police station. The leaders, meanwhile, addressed the gathering in front of the police station. Marandi said that they are always with the land owners. “This agitation will continue till the villagers get the justice,” he said.
Congress leader and former Union Minister Subodh Kand Sahay said that we will fight against the anarchy and will again stop the works of NTPC. Our agitation will go on till the villagers will get their due and will feel justice has been done with them.
Badkagaon MlA Nirmala Devi said, “We are fighting for justice since long. NTPC management is not following the agreements made with the land owners. land owners of the areas want justice and proper compensation of their land.”
NTPC coal project management has lodged an FIR at Barkagaon PS some ten days ago when the leaders had organised a public meeting in Pankuri Barbahdih area of Chirudih mining area.