Indian Greenpeace Activists Arrested Over Mine Protest

Two Greenpeace environmental activists have been arrested by police in India's Madhya Pradesh state over protests against a coal mine that threaten a forest.



Akshay Gupta and Rahul Gupta were seized in a night raid on Tuesday in Singrauli district, a statement from the pressure group said.



Other activists were allegedly threatened with arrest if they were seen mobilizing opposition among villagers in the run-up to a vote on the proposed mine.



Earlier on Tuesday, police confiscated a mobile telephone signal booster and solar panels that Greenpeace had set up to help villagers communicate with the rest of the country before a village council, known as a Gram Sabha, on the colliery plans.



More than 50,000 people from 18 villages are dependent on the Mahan forest for their livelihoods and have rights of ownership over the land protected under the 2006 Forest Rights Act.



Locals have claimed that the final stages of forestry clearance were granted to the Essar Group on the basis of a forged Gram Sabha resolution. A meeting held in March last year in Amelia village was attended by 184 people but the resolution shows 1,125 signatures, most of them alleged forgeries.



Priya Pillai, a senior Greenpeace campaigner, said: "The local authorities are intimidating people in a ploy to cater to the interests of corporate giants."



She added: "Now, days before the fresh Gram Sabha, the authorities are trying to uproot the very movement that raised the issue of the forged Gram Sabha. This clampdown by the administration shows their intent that they do not want a free, fair and transparent Gram Sabha."



Resident Hardayal Singh Gond said: "We are committed to save our forests and open to a Gram Sabha that is conducted in a just manner. We are not deterred by such intimidating tactics and will continue to demand our rights."



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara