Sat Mar 08 05:07:06 UTC 2025: ## West Bengal Villagers Protest Basalt Mining, Alleging Police Crackdown

**Kolkata, March 8, 2025** – Basalt mining resumed at the Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harisingha (DPDH) coal project in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Thursday evening following a three-day pause due to protests. Hundreds of villagers, primarily women and tribals, had blocked the project site since Tuesday, March 4th, alleging environmental damage and a lack of prior consultation regarding forest clearing for mining operations.

Protestors, from the villages of Chanda, Mathura Pahari, and Sagarbandi, planted a stick – a symbolic tribal ritual halting work – and rejected a compensation package offered by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. They claim the project threatens their livelihoods and birthright to their land.

However, the resumption of mining followed what local activists describe as a heavy police crackdown. A planned large-scale protest on Thursday was met with barricades and a massive police presence, allegedly preventing many villagers from attending. Activists Jui Koley and Sushil Murmu accuse police of intimidation, threats, and the forceful removal of the symbolic stick by coercing a small group of tribals. They also report threats, including phone calls with threats of dire consequences, and the shutdown of internet services in the area. Police were reportedly caught on video threatening protestors, citing the example of a teacher killed during a similar protest in 2022.

Workers’ unions across the state have expressed solidarity with the villagers, stating that the resistance demonstrates the discontent of the Adivasi community with the project and the administration’s failure to acknowledge their relationship with their land and environment. The administration previously attributed the halt in mining to “local issues,” claiming that efforts were underway to resolve land ownership document problems. The situation remains tense, with villagers vowing to continue their fight for their land and environment.

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