Bihar: Farmers’ Protest Turns Violent in Buxar After Midnight Police Raid

The farmers claimed they had been peacefully protesting against the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) power plant company in Buxar's Chousa locality for a new rate of land acquisition for the project at rates agreed upon 12 years ago when the plots were purchased. In 2021, work on a 1320 MW coal power plant began at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore.

The farmers threw stones at the police and the power plant. They carried sticks and rods, vandalised police vehicles, and set a vehicle on fire. They also set fire to tyres at the SJVN plant's main gate, obstructing traffic. After firing in the air, the police attempted to control the situation, but the farmers continued their protest. Four cops were reportedly injured in a brick batting and attack, despite a large police presence on the scene.

Farmers had been protesting here for the past 85 days. On Tuesday, they demonstrated in front of the plant's bolted main gate, demanding current values/price for agricultural land being acquired by the state-owned power company.

Around 11.45 p.m. on Tuesday, a large number of police forces allegedly broke open the houses of some farmers who were sleeping with family members and thrashed them with batons and boots in Banarpur village, which falls under the jurisdiction of Muffasil police station.

Police detained four people, including protest leader Narendra Tiwary. They are also accused of assaulting the women and using foul language against them. The police action was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media.

On March 9, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the groundwork for the plant. SJVN is working with the Himachal Pradesh government and the Centre to build a power plant that will produce 9,828 million power units. In Bihar, 75% of the work is said to be completed, and 85% of the power will be supplied.

According to the Buxar district administration, a rail corridor will be built on 14 villages' 137.0077 acre land. The government will purchase 55.445 hectares of land from 309 Chousa farmers. According to ADG (headquarters) Jitendra Singh Gangwar, a contingent of police officers, including Sahabad range DIG Navin Kumar Jha, rushed to the scene to bring the situation under control.

"The incident is said to be related to compensation," Gangwar explained. He did not, however, explain why the police raided the farmers' homes and thrashed their family members.