2 cops among 10 injured in clash over land acquisition compensation in Jharkhand

Medininagar (Jharkhand), Jul 9 (PTI) At least 10 people, including two police personnel, were injured on Thursday after villagers clashed with government employees and security forces over compensation for land acquisition in Jharkhand's Palamu district, an official said. The incident occurred near a forest checkpost in the Chiyanki area under the Sadar Police Station limits when the teams of local administration and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) reached the site to pave the way for work for the expansion of NH 39, connecting Palamu to Aurangabad in Bihar. The villagers stopped the teams, saying they would not allow them to demolish their houses until they are given proper compensation. Land was acquired for the national highway, but the "compensation against land is still pending", a villager said. The protesters allegedly pelted the police and government vehicles with stones, which left two personnel, including a woman constable, injured, the official said. "Two police personnel were injured in the stone pelting by the villagers. They were admitted to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital for treatment. The police resorted to baton charge to bring the situation under control," Palamu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dilip Singh Sekhawat told PTI. Around eight villagers were injured in the incident, a police officer said. The police personnel injured in the incident have been identified as Rajmohan Singh and Priya Kumari. The DC said that action will be taken against those involved in stone pelting. "As far as compensation is concerned, the administration will investigate the matter. The national highway will be constructed at any cost," he said. The sub-divisional magistrate of Palamu Sadar had imposed prohibitory orders within the stipulated limits of the construction site for Thursday and Friday, but villagers gathered there in violation of the order, he said. PTI CORR SAN BDC