Police lathi-charge residents of K. Bethapudi in West Godavari district on Thursday after they tried to stop heavy machinery of an aqua food unit. | Photo Credit: AVG PRASAD more-in Six police personnel were injured at Kamsali Bethapudi on Thursday when they were allegedly attacked by villagers who had been agitating against setting up of an aqua park at Tundurru. Residents tried to prevent vehicles carrying machinery meant for Godavari Aqua Food Park from passing through the village. A scuffle ensued between the police personnel who were providing escort to the vehicles and the agitators when the latter tried to break the police barricades. The protesters, a majority of them women, threw chilli powder at the women personnel and tried to pour petrol on the policemen. According to Ravi Prakash, Superintendent of Police, three women constables, one constable and one reserve sub-inspector sustained injuries. One constable — Srilakshmi — was grievously injured in the eyes due to chilli powder. All the six police personnel were rushed to hospitals in Narasapuram. SP talks tough Mr. Ravi Prakash warned that any attempt to impede development in the district would not be tolerated. The police arrested Areti Vasu, Areti Satyavati, Javvadi Satyanarayana, Samudrala Abbulu, Viswanatham and Sattibabu, who had been spearheading the protest, and shifted them to the Mogalturu police station. About 50 villagers, mostly women, were also taken into custody and shifted to the Narasapuram police station. The residents of Tundurru, Kamsali Bethapudi and Jonnalagaruvu villages, located a few kilometres from the food park site, had been demanding relocation of the factory for the last nine months. A few of them were arrested and court cases booked against them.

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