Police File Cases Against Bhopal Gas Tragedy Waste Disposa Protestors
Pithampur, Dhar – Protests erupted in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, following the arrival of toxic waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy at the Ramky Enviro facility, where it was slated for incineration. In response, police have registered five cases against demonstrators opposing the disposal of 337 tonnes of hazardous material, officials confirmed on Saturday.
On Friday, large crowds gathered in Pithampur, approximately 50 km from Dhar district headquarters, to protest the waste’s transfer to the Ramky Enviro plant. The demonstrations led authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting gatherings of 50 or more people near the facility.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Kumar Singh reported that five separate cases were filed Friday night for disrupting public peace. Some individuals were specifically named in the complaints, while other cases were registered against unidentified persons.
By Saturday morning, normalcy had returned to Pithampur, and industrial operations continued without disruption, Singh said.
Protest Details
A crowd of 500-600 demonstrators marched to the Ramky Group’s Industrial Waste Management Private Limited premises on Friday, but police intervened before tensions escalated.
During the demonstrations, two individuals attempted self-immolation at separate locations in Pithampur amid a bandh (shutdown) called by the Pithampur Bachao Samiti. However, swift action by nearby protesters prevented casualties, and the individuals were taken to a local hospital.
Government Response
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav convened a high-level meeting on Friday night to assess the situation. He stated that the waste had been transported under stringent safety protocols in compliance with orders from the Supreme Court and High Court, which had set a January 4 deadline for its arrival at the disposal site.
Yadav assured that if public safety concerns persist, the government will present the issue to the courts and await further direction before proceeding.
“Our government’s priority is public safety. We will not move forward with the disposal process until the court issues further orders,” Yadav said.
