Bolangir (Odhisa), April 30 (ANI): Police charged villagers villagers in Odisha's Bolangir District as they protested against an irrigation project and demanded better compensation for their displacement.
The project is named as the 'Lower Suktel' project.
A journalist, who was filming the scuffle, was also thrashed by the police and had to be admitted to hospital.
"I was capturing how police were dragging a girl by her hair. I went upto the magistrate and asked him how this can happen in his presence. It was then that I was attacked," said journalist Amitabh Patra.
Patra said more than six policemen dragged him and brutally thrashed him.
Displaced villagers were seen staging a road blockade for two hours before the scuffle.
Police have reportedly arrested 16 villagers and injured thirty others.
Police denied any violation of human rights in connection with the incident.
"There is no such charge (violation of human rights). The magistrate was present there and other mediapersons were there," sub-divisional police officer (Bolangir), Naren Nayak said.
Villagers in Odisha have rebelled against land acquisition in the past. (ANI)
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