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dam-l Maheshwar Press Release April 23, 1998



Press Release- from NBA                       April 23, 1998

        HUNDREDS CAPTURE MAHESHWAR DAM ON SECOND DAY
BRUTAL ASSAULT BY POLICE: 9 INJURED, 500 MORE ARRESTED.
-------------------------------------------------------

Despite the repression and arrests on the first day of the seizure of
the controversial Maheshwar dam in the Narmada Valley, over 800
villagers, including women marched on the dam site on 23rd (Thursday).
The Madhya Pradesh police, however, brutally attacked the villagers and
chased them, resulting in various injuries to nine villagers.  The
police fired three shots i the air and fired two tear gas shells.
Nearly 500 more people were arrested, taking up the tally of the
arrested upton 1500 during the two days.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan condemns this brutal assault on the people.
"This has clearly shown that the state machinery, administration and
police are subservient to the national and international capital and the
private companies like S.Kumar's while suppressing the farmers,
villagers for their sake".

Today, on 23rd April, over 800 men and women marched towards the dam
site despite the arrests of over a thousand people and repression by the
police on previous day.  They reached the dam site and the black
commandos descended down upon the people; along with the mounted police
too started beating them.  Number of people, including women were
injured, nine of them serious and were admitted to the hospital.  Later,
the police arrested 5000 people.

Meanwhile, about 1200 men and women were arrested on Wednesday (22nd) on
the first day of the seizure of the dam.  They were kept in the jails at
Mandaleshwar (341, 120 women), Maheshwar (720, 369 women), and Kasaravad
(84).  They are not given food or even water in the jails.  About 23
people, including women, have been admitted in the hospitals of
Maheshwar and Mandaleshwar.

Despite the repression by the police and government, the people are
ready for the protracted struggle against the S.Kumar's aided by the
state government.

Sanjay Sanghvai