Jaipur, Dec 11 (LatestNewsX) – By Thursday, the situation around the ethanol plant in Tibbi, Hanumangarh had intensified; with internet service cut off and a large police contingent on the ground, authorities tried to re‑establish order. From the morning, farmers had begun gathering near a Gurudwara close to the protest site, heightening worries that the unrest could flare up again. Earlier that week, the protest—ongoing for fifteen months—had turned violent after a Mahapanchayat took place. Hundreds of demonstrators breached barricades, stormed the plant, tore down walls, vandalised property, and set roughly fourteen vehicles ablaze. Police attempted to calm the crowd with tear gas and other subdued measures, but the protesters hurled bricks and stones. Nearly thirty people were hurt, including 24 officers and about twelve protestors; three police officers were in serious condition. Despite enforcement efforts, the mob grew more belligerent. MLA Abhimanyu Poonia sustained head injuries during the clashes and was taken to the Government District Hospital in Hanumangarh. The crowd remained inside and around the factory until late, keeping the atmosphere tense. The Mahapanchayat held outside the SDM office that Wednesday morning brought together farmer groups, women from the villages, youths, and union representatives in large numbers. Leaders demanded an immediate halt to construction, insisting the plant should not proceed until a formal agreement was reached. They warned that, if no response was received by 2 p.m., they would march to the facility. When the administration failed to provide written assurance, protesters broke through barriers, entered the premises, and destroyed walls with tractors, set offices and equipment on fire, and vandalised vehicles parked outside. Stones were hurled at police stationed in the security cordon, and the authorities were forced to deploy tear gas despite repeated warnings. In the town’s community health centre, 36 people received treatment—24 police officers and 12 demonstrators. Several officers sustained serious head and shoulder wounds; MLA Poonia was transferred to Hanumangarh for further care. Due to the risk of further escalation, internet services were shut down the night before, and a continued heavy police presence has been maintained since Wednesday, with local markets remaining closed. Additional farmer organisations from Punjab and Haryana arrived in large numbers, further swelling the crowd. More police units were called in from the surrounding districts to help manage the situation. As the night of Wednesday wore on, thousands of farmers stayed both inside and outside the plant premises, and on Thursday the tension lingered while the administration urged the public to keep the peace. arc/svn
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