Farmers oppose oil pipeline in Kohla village, 42 detained; panchayat called
Farmers in Kohla village, Gohana, protested the installation of an oil pipeline from New Mundra in Gujarat to the IOCL refinery in Panipat, blocking the work site on Wednesday. The police detained 42 farmers, including leaders from various farmer organisations, and resumed the project under tight security.
The farmers have been demonstrating against the pipeline for three months, objecting to it crossing through their fields and demanding compensation at market rates. On Tuesday, the administration began work with heavy police presence, briefly detaining 24 farmers but releasing them later.
On Wednesday, farmers gathered for a panchayat in Kohla, attended by Master Balbir, state president of the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha; Ravi Azaad, BKU youth president; and Satender Lohchab, convener of the Kisan-Kamgar Adhikar Morcha. “The state government and administration are ignoring the farmers’ demands and forcing this project on them,” said Master Balbir. He confirmed a panchayat will be held in Kohla on Thursday to decide further action.
After the panchayat, the farmers moved to the fields, climbing on the poclain machine to halt work. The police, in the presence of the Duty Magistrate, detained 42 farmers, including women, and transported them to Baroda police station.
Sumit Dalal, general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, along with state vice-president Shradhanand Solanki and CITU leader Anand Sharma, demanded the immediate release of the detained farmers.
