The tiny village of Vadditandra in Santabommali mandal of Srikakulam district witnessed pitched –battles between protesters and police reminding one of a war like situation as the anti power plant agitation turned violent Friday evening.
The protestors, mostly fishermen opposing the setting up of coal based power plant at Kakarapalli near Vadditandra, pelted stones against police who responded with lobbing tear gas shells and firing rubber bullets to disperse them. The villagers, numbering around 200, also attacked the police with sticks, iron rods and chilly powder.
Twenty-five people, including seven cops and Kasibugga DSP Mr AVL Prasanna Kumar were injured in the melee.
The trouble began when police tried to evict the protestors from the Dharna camp set up at the Vadditandra junction. Police took some 130 people into custody for attacking them.
People of 36 villages have been opposing the proposal to set up a 2640 MW coal based power plant in 3,333 acres by the East Cost Energy Private Ltd arguing that their livelihood would be totally disturbed with the arrival of the plant.
