Farmers torch vehicles over land for airport near Mumbai; at least 25 injured

Hundreds of angry farmers protesting against a proposed defence airport on the outskirts of Mumbai held up traffic, clashed with police and burned down four police vehicles on Thursday. At least 26 people — 12 policemen, 12 locals and two mediapersons — were injured in the violence.
Local resentment had been building against plans to turn an abandoned World War II airbase into a defence airport at Nevali, about 45 km northeast of Mumbai. But Thursday’s protests took an unexpected violent turn, as farmers whose land had been acquired for the project attacked police personnel.
TV images showed stick-wielding protesters blocking a busy local road with burning tyres and setting a police van on fire. They clashed with police when they tried to disperse the crowd.
“Some of our policemen suffered injuries while trying to control the situation,” said an officer who did not wish to be named. An assistant police commissioner was among the injured.
Jagdish Mhatre, a 33-year-old teacher who was walking towards Bhal village after school duty, said he saw several women protesters being lathi-charged by police.