11 tribals oppose plot survey for parking lot near Unity Statue; held

Rajpipla

Over 11 tribals, including 5 women, were arrested for protesting against the proposed development of a parking lot near the Statue of Unity in Kevadia village in the Narmada district of Gujarat, police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when over 20 tribals opposed the ongoing survey of the area being conducted by the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam.

Among them, 2 women protesters — a 60-year-old and her 30-year-old relative — stripped themselves partially, an official said. Villagers were opposing the upcoming parking lot near the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity, a major tourist attraction. "The incident took place on Sunday afternoon following which an FIR was lodged against 20 villagers who were part of the protest. 11 of them, including 5 women and 6 men, were arrested on Monday," said Kevadia police inspector PT Chaudhary.

While protesting against the survey work, the villagers claimed the land on which the local authority had put up a fence for the development project belonged to them, and its acquisition was illegal.