At least six police personnel were injured during a clash with villagers in Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur district on July 24, 2026. The incident occurred amid protests against land acquisition for a proposed coal mining project.
Police said officers had gone to the Dharampur-Madannagar villages to arrest suspects in a pending case when they were attacked with stones and sticks. Surajpur Additional Superintendent of Police Yogesh Dewangan stated that the force had prepared for possible resistance but did not expect the level of violence that injured more than six personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Villagers, however, claimed the police team arrived around 3 a.m. accompanied by a mining company survey team. Village Sarpanch Babulal Poya said officers took away his son Birendra, prompting protests that escalated after an elderly person was allegedly attacked by police.
Poya added that the village, home to Gond tribals in a Fifth Schedule area, has not issued a no-objection certificate for mining. He said the government offered compensation below market rates without discussion. Dewangan denied any survey team was present and said the operation was solely for arrests.
The Hindu was unable to obtain further comments from senior officers on the exact number of injured.
