SURAT: Police fired over 30 tear gas shells in Doswada of Tapi district on Monday as around 2,000 locals pelted stones on cops on bandobast duty. Several cops suffered injuries and were shifted to hospital.
Tight police bandobast was installed at Doswada GIDC on Monday morning during scheduled public hearing of proposed plant of Hindustan Zinc Ltd.
Locals in Doswada are protesting setting up of the plant and have submitted memorandum against its development in the area. Holding public hearing in time of Covid-19 was one of the reasons for protested by locals.
Those participating in the hearing demanded that the it should be postponed while those outside shouted slogans with banners. Locals are protesting the plant over environmental issues as well.
After the district collector H K Vadhvaniya announced that the hearing is postponed some people started pelting stoned on cops.
“Police had to lob tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Cops have suffered injuries and the situation is now under control,” said Sujata Majmudar, superintendent of police, Tapi.
