Overview
- Hundreds of farmers breached the boundary of the under-construction Dune Ethanol plant with tractors, torched vehicles and machinery, and clashed with police after a mahapanchayat on Wednesday.
- Police used lathi-charge and fired tear-gas shells to disperse the crowd, and more than 50 people were reported injured, including Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia.
- Authorities maintained prohibitory orders, suspended internet services for a second day, and deployed additional police, RAC, and Home Guard personnel around Tibbi and Rathikheda.
- The Hanumangarh administration said the project has all required approvals, while farmer leaders demand a written halt, relocation, or fresh environmental clearance with local consent.
- Police booked over 100 people and detained about 40 following the violence, as farmer groups gathered at a gurdwara to plan their next steps and talks with officials were anticipated.