A tense situation unfolded in Punjab's Sangrur district on Wednesday after a large police contingent reached Jahangir village near Dhuri and detained several demonstrators protesting against a private ethanol factory for the past two months.The protesters alleged that police personnel shoved them and resorted to a lathi-charge during the operation. Those detained included Simrat Kaur, wife of former Dhuri MLA Dalvir Singh Goldi.The police, however, maintained that they were acting in compliance with court orders to reopen a road blocked by the protesters.The villagers have been staging a continuous sit-in, or pakka morcha, against the factory, alleging that its operations have adversely affected their lives and health.

According to the protesters, smoke emitted by the facility and the foul smell from waste generated during ethanol production using maize have made living in the surrounding areas difficult.The villagers have also raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination, alleging that the factory’s emissions and waste pose a threat to the local environment. They maintain that they were not informed when the facility was initially established that it would be used for ethanol production, a key grievance behind the prolonged agitation.The protests intensified over the past fortnight, with demonstrators blocking a road for around 15 days.While discussions between the protesters and the administration were underway, the company's management had also approached the court over the road blockade.Around 2 pm on Tuesday, a large number of police personnel arrived at the protest site and began detaining those present.Lawyer Amandeep Singh Chahal, who was participating in the agitation, alleged that police personnel clashed with protesters and resorted to a baton charge.Several demonstrators were taken into custody during the operation, although the total number of detainees and their current status were not immediately confirmed.The detention of Simrat Kaur, wife of former Dhuri MLA Dalvir Singh Goldi, added to the significance of the police action.

The operation also drew attention over restrictions on media access to the protest site.Police had erected barricades on a canal bridge near Jahangir village, preventing journalists and members of the public from proceeding towards the site.When asked why media personnel were being stopped, the Station House Officer (SHO) present at the location did not respond, leaving questions over the reasons for the restrictions unanswered.SPD Davinder Attri said the police had detained individuals who were disrupting the situation at the site.He added that a road that had remained blocked for a prolonged period had been reopened to traffic in compliance with court orders.The police action has brought the dispute between the villagers, the administration and the factory management into sharper focus.While residents continue to demand a resolution to their concerns over pollution and groundwater quality, the authorities have emphasised the need to enforce the court’s directions and restore traffic movement.Further clarity is awaited on the number and status of those detained, the allegations of a lathi-charge and the reasons for restricting media access.The administration’s response to the villagers’ environmental concerns is also likely to be central to efforts to resolve the ongoing standoff.- EndsInputs by Kulveer Singh