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Government blamed for Rewa firing incident

BHOPAL: Jan Sangharsh Morcha and Samajwadi Jan Parishad (alliance of people’s organisations) on Thursday released a report on a recent firing incident in front of J.P. Cement factory in Rewa. It accuses the State Government of shielding those responsible for the incident in which one villager was killed and many injured.

On September 22, villagers were protesting for employment and raising various other demands in front of the cement factory in Rewa when they were lathi-charged. They were also fired at allegedly by the factory’s security staff.

The report, prepared by a probe panel set up by Jan Sangharsh Morcha and Samajwadi Jan Parishad, was released to the media at a press conference addressed by Dr. Sunil of Samajwadi Jan Prishad, Ramkunwar Rawat of Narmada Bachao Andolan and Madhuri of Jan Sangharsh Morcha.

The report adds that the police have failed to arrest the factory owner and those who have been named in the FIR. The Government is yet to announce the terms of reference for judicial inquiry ordered into this incident.

It says the State Government is culpable on many counts and was directly responsible for the Rewa incident.

Ms. Madhuri told media persons that the villagers had been seeking the State Government’s intervention to redress their grievances relating to employment, pollution and other issues linked with the cement factory, but there was no response from the Government.

She alleged that the police had also tried to put pressure on the villagers by arresting some of them on the eve of the protest.

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Government blamed for Rewa firing incident

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