Raigarh: The Chhattisgarh government has ordered an inquiry into the violent protests that erupted in the Tamnar area of Raigarh district over a proposed coal mining project, even as the local administration has initiated the process to cancel the public hearing held earlier this month for the project. The move comes a day after clashes between protesters and police left several security personnel injured and multiple vehicles torched, sharply escalating tensions in the region.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Sunday that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty. “The incident in Tamnar will be investigated, and action will be taken against whoever is responsible,” he told reporters in Raipur, signalling that the state government was taking the violence seriously while also seeking to restore calm.

In parallel, the district administration has moved to address one of the central demands of the protesters—the scrapping of the public hearing conducted on December 8, 2025, for the proposed Gare Pelma Sector-I coal block. In a letter addressed to the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board on Sunday, Raigarh Collector Mayank Chaturvedi requested that no further action be taken at present on the public hearing conducted at village Daurabhatha.

The public hearing was held as part of the statutory environmental clearance process for the Gare Pelma Sector-I coal block, which has been allotted to Jindal Power. According to official records, the project involves an open-cast-cum-underground coal mine spread over an area of around 3,020 hectares, with a planned production capacity of 15 million tonnes per annum. The proposed mining area falls under Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district and is expected to affect several villages in the region.

Opposition to the project has been building for weeks. Villagers from 14 affected villages have been staging a sit-in protest at CHP Chowk in Libra village since December 12, demanding the cancellation of the public hearing and opposing the mining project itself. Protesters have alleged that the hearing was conducted in an “illegal” manner and without proper consent or participation of all affected communities.

On Saturday, the agitation turned violent, plunging the area into chaos. According to police, protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, injuring several policemen, including two officials. A mob is also accused of setting ablaze a police bus, a jeep, and an ambulance, while damaging several other government vehicles.

The violence spread beyond clashes with the police. Officials said protesters stormed into the coal handling plant of Jindal Power near Libra village, where they allegedly torched a conveyor belt, two tractors, and other vehicles. Parts of the office premises were also vandalised, significantly damaging company property and raising concerns about law and order in the area.

Villagers, however, have presented a different version of events. They allege that the situation spiralled out of control after police attempted to forcibly remove protesters from the demonstration site and resorted to a lathi charge. According to them, the use of force by the police provoked anger among protesters, leading to the violence and arson that followed.

In the aftermath of the clashes, police registered multiple first information reports (FIRs) in connection with the violence and arson. Security in the area was stepped up, and efforts were made to prevent further escalation.

At the same time, the district administration initiated efforts to defuse tensions through dialogue. Officials said they had been making continuous attempts over the past two days to hold peace talks with representatives of the affected villages. On Sunday evening, a crucial meeting was held at the Tamnar Janpad Panchayat office between district authorities and a delegation representing all 14 project-affected villages.

According to a statement issued by the administration, the meeting involved “constructive discussions” aimed at maintaining peace and harmony in the area. During the talks, officials informed the villagers that the process to cancel the public hearing was being taken forward based on their suggestions and demands. The administration assured the delegation that further action on other issues raised by them would be taken in accordance with government guidelines.

Gharghoda Sub-Divisional Magistrate Durga Prasad Adhikari confirmed that the administration had already begun the process of cancelling the public hearing. “One round of discussions has been held with village representatives following Saturday’s incident,” he said. When asked specifically whether the administration had initiated the cancellation process, Adhikari replied in the affirmative.

The SDM also appealed to villagers to maintain peace, emphasising that the administration respects their demands and is acting on them. “We urge people to remain calm and avoid violence. The administration is listening and taking steps accordingly,” he said.

The move to initiate the cancellation of the public hearing is being seen as a significant concession to the protesters, for whom scrapping the hearing was a key demand. However, officials cautioned that the process would have to follow legal and procedural requirements laid down under environmental and administrative rules.

The violence in Tamnar has once again highlighted the deep tensions surrounding large mining projects in tribal and rural areas of Chhattisgarh, where communities often fear displacement, environmental degradation, and loss of livelihoods. While the state government has argued that mining projects are essential for economic development and energy security, local communities and activists have repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate consultation and the long-term social and environmental costs.

With an official probe now ordered into the violence and the administration moving to cancel the controversial public hearing, the immediate focus appears to be on restoring peace in the region. Authorities have said they will continue dialogue with villagers while ensuring that those responsible for violence and destruction of public and private property are held accountable.

As investigations proceed and administrative processes unfold, the situation in Tamnar remains sensitive. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the government can strike a balance between development objectives, legal procedures, and the rights and concerns of local communities, while preventing further unrest in the area.