2 injured in police firing on protesters against thermal

Two persons sustained bullet injuries when police opened fire to quell violent protests against a 2000 Megawatt thermal power project coming up at Kudagi, about 40 kilometers from here, today.
The protesters set afire half a dozen vehicles. The fire also gutted some shops and sheds, a senior police official said, adding, five persons were injured in the violence.
Three rounds were fired after laticharge to disperse the crowd which gheroed Kudagi Thermal Power project office, Additional Superintendent of Police B Y Bellubbi said. The injured have been admitted to civil Hospital Bijapur.
He said the people were protesting against the project saying it will be harmful to the environment.

Construction work under the project commenced three years ago, but a few months back, some groups launched protests, which today was joined by farmers who had not received compensation from government for acquiring land.
Farmers allege that the officials did not provide jobs to locals who lost their land for the project coming up on 3000 acres acquired three years ago.
Additional force had been rushed to the spot and the situation was now stated to be peaceful.