Rajkot: More than 800 farmers of eight villages of Amreli district took out a rally in more than 30 tractors against mineral mafias and staged a dharna outside the Amreli collectorate on Monday.
The farmers led by sarpanches of the different villages, were demanding a stern action against mineral mafias.
They took out a 20km-long rally which culminated at the Amreli district collectorate, where they staged a dharna, shouting slogans against the district administration for its alleged inaction against mineral mafias who excavated sand and mineral illegally from the bed of Shell River.
“The protest broke out after Viththal Patel, vice-sarpanch of Kargala village of Amreli district was beaten up so badly allegedly by the mineral mafias that his legs got fractured a week ago. Though the accused in the case were arrested, sand and mineral theft from the bed of Shell River continued unhindered,” said a source from the Amreli district administration.
The protesting farmers eventually called off their agitation after police’s intervention. The cops allowed 10 farmers’ representatives to go inside the collectorate and make a representation.