Mumbai: The Wada police station arrested 13 villagers for creating a law and order situation in Biloshi village, where Reliance Gas Ltd was to carry out work on a pipeline to clear ethane gas to avert any untoward incident from taking place. The villagers were against letting the company carry out the work, and ended up taking on the police despite the work permission having been issued by the tehsildar.
The incident took place on Saturday in the village from where the gas pipeline passes, and the dispute pertained to the farmers’ demand for more compensation, over and above what had been agreed and paid by the company, the police said. The farmers in Palghar district, including those from Wada taluka, staged protest over the issue, following which, the tehsildar’s office (zilladhikari) was informed about four spots on the pipeline which needed immediate repairs.
The tehsildar’s office informed the municipal commissioner’s office and the police, and sought requisite police personnel for the security of workers while they cleared the ethane gas and worked on shutting the pipeline.
“Senior police officers then held a meeting with the villagers at Biloshi and informed them about the work that would be undertaken, seeking their support and understanding. The villagers were however hell-bent on not letting the work to be carried out,” said an officer of Palghar police.
On Saturday, policemen were deployed while carrying out the work which began at around 2pm. However, nearly 40 villagers assembled there and began protesting the ongoing work. Some of them began provoking the crowd after which, some charged at the officials, leading to a probable law and order situation.
After work on the pipeline was completed, officials registered a case against the villagers under sections 353 (deterring public servant from discharging his duty), 452 (trespassing), 504 (intentional insult and provocation) and 143 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. Subsequently, the officials arrested 13 persons on these charges.
