Ken-Betwa Link Project sparks dramatic protest:Mud-smeared villagers lie on pyres by riverbank; demand fair compensation

The ‘Chita Andolan’ (Pyre Movement) of villagers displaced by development projects like the Ken-Betwa Link Project, Majhgawan, Runjh, Neguwa, and NTPC in Chhatarpur has entered its fifth day. This movement continues under the banner of Jai Kisan Sangathan with slogans of ‘Give Justice or Kill Us’. Despite heavy rains, tribal women and men are steadfast at the protest site. Supporting the movement, social activist Amit Bhatnagar has started an indefinite hunger strike. His fast, demanding justice for the affected and action against officials involved in corruption, entered its third day on Wednesday. The protestors have also started ‘Mitti Satyagraha’ (Soil Protest) from today. Amit Bhatnagar accused the administration of intimidating and threatening the affected. He said- This movement will continue until the genuinely affected receive their rights and an impartial investigation into the alleged irregularities is conducted.Villagers lying on pyres with mud applied on their bodies.Administrative officials reached the protest site, where they had an argument with the protestors. Villagers alleged that officials tried to intimidate them. They also alleged that bribes are demanded in government offices and that the administrative machinery is being misused to suppress their voices.Demand for action against corrupt officialsThe protestors have put forth their main demands before the government and district administration that all displaced families should be given fair compensation and rehabilitation for their land and homes. A high-level independent inquiry should be conducted into the alleged corruption and irregularities in various projects.Strict legal action should be taken against officials guilty of corruption. The intimidation and threatening of the displaced should be stopped immediately.Protester Amit Bhatnagar applying mud on his face.Amit said – We have been talking for 4 years, no solution foundA video of Amit Bhatnagar has surfaced. In it, he is saying that projects in Chhatarpur-Panna district are acquiring the water, forest, and land of farmers, but Land Acquisition 2013 and other laws are not being followed. We have been talking for the past 4 years, but no solution has been found. The administration has now resorted to atrocities against the people.Our previous Chita movement received nationwide support. The administration made many false promises to us. To suppress the movement, fake cases were filed against approximately 250 people. Currently, houses have been demolished without providing compensation to the people.Doing this is a violation of Supreme Court rules. Along with farmers’ houses, their lands are also being acquired, that too without any compensation. While we are protesting here, people are being suppressed, they are not being allowed to raise their voices. The administration is oppressing them.