เคนเคฟเคเคฆเฅ เคฎเฅเค เคชเคขเคผเฅเค เฅค On the morning of February 19, in Khedali village of Dhar district, several people arrived with drilling machines and a heavy police presence.
The area falls within a limestone mining block in Dhar. Under police protection, sampling work for the proposed mine was to be carried out. However, local villagers began gathering. The situation escalated to the point that stones were allegedly thrown at police and administrative vehicles. Videos that went viral on social media show hundreds of people pelting stones while police personnel retreat from the spot.
Several government vehicles were damaged in the stone-pelting, and officials had to abandon the survey midway. Villagers claim the project threatens their agriculture, groundwater, and tribal land rights. But the question is: did this conflict erupt suddenly, or was it part of developments unfolding over months? To answer this, we spoke to residents and reviewed government documents.
The Dispute Centers on a Limestone Mine
Vijay Rawat, President of the Kukshi Sarpanch Association, told Ground Report that Khedali village lies between two limestone mining blocks. Rajasthan-based Shree Cements Limited was granted mining permission for three years, starting March 2024 for the East of Dawari Block and March 2025 for the Bamanbardi Limestone Block.
The two blocks cover 815 hectares and 913.39 hectares, respectively. Bamanbardi village falls under the Bamanbardi block, while Takari, Talawadi, and Ghoda villages fall under the Dabri block. Both blocks are in the Kukshi tehsil of the Dhar district. The disputed site, Khedli, is about 7 km from Bamanbardi.
Rawat said the area falls under a Scheduled Tribal Area where the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) is applicable. Satyam Shrivastava, an expert on land matters in Scheduled Areas, explained:
โSince limestone falls under minor minerals, the approval process for its mining is not as complex as coal. However, because this is a notified Scheduled Area, approval from the Gram Sabha is mandatory before any mining auction.โ
He outlined the process: approval from the Gram Sabha, followed by auction, area notification, and issuance of notices regarding land acquisition.
However, locals say they have not received any notice regarding displacement. Sarpanches also claim they have not received any official documents detailing government and private land included in the project. Raviraj Baghel, who is leading the movement under the banner โZameen Bachao Mahaandolan (Save The Land Movement),โ said:
โThe mining area includes private lands adjacent to government land. We have learned that drilling is to be done at 300 locations. The administration is neither clarifying where exactly this will happen nor being transparent.โ
Nirpal from Talawadi village also said he has not received any notice related to displacement or the project. He added that continuous intervention by police and administration, without clear answers, has increased a sense of insecurity among villagers.
Attempts to contact the Kukshi SDM regarding displacement concerns were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off. Questions were sent via text message, and the report will be updated upon a response.
How the Protest Began
According to a letter dated November 13, 2025, issued by the Dhar Superintendent of Police, prior protests and sit-ins had prevented completion of the preliminary survey. The SP directed the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) to ensure adequate security. Subsequently, on December 22, 2025, the SDO instructed the Kukshi police station in charge to provide police protection during the exploration work.
Baghel said that when company representatives arrived for drilling on December 22, villagers protested, after which they left peacefully. The next day, a rally was organized in Kukshi against the project. Baghel claimed that around 5,000 people participated. Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Umang Singhar, also addressed the gathering.
Baghel added that after the rally, Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra visited Mogra village in the Bagh area. โHe assured us that mining would not proceed without approval from local people, the Gram Sabha, and elected representatives,โ Baghel said.
Protest Turns Violent
During the December 23 rally, locals submitted a memorandum addressed to the President, Prime Minister, Governor, Union Minister, and Chief Minister. It expressed concerns about surveys for limestone and graphite mines approved in Dhar district and demanded cancellation of these approvals.
Rawat said, โWe never received any response to the memorandum. We were trying to resolve the matter peacefully through dialogue.โ According to Rawat, on February 19, when the survey was conducted with a heavy police presence, villagers first asked for dialogue. He alleged: โInstead of talking to us, the police used force, which provoked people.โ
Baghel condemned the violence and, the following day, appealed to villagers not to take the law into their own hands. He said if the administration does not accept their demands, they will approach the court.
To understand the governmentโs position, we contacted district officials. The District Public Relations Officer shared a statement issued by Kukshi SDM Pramod Gurjar. According to the statement, villagers were advised to submit their objections in writing, and these would be addressed at the competent level as per the rules. He denied any casualties and said law and order had been restored at the site.
The Kukshi Sarpanch Association will convene a meeting on Sunday, February 22, bringing together sarpanches, patels, elected representatives, and social activists to discuss the way forward on the issue.
Reviewing the sequence of events makes one thing clear: the February 19 clash did not happen overnight. While there may have been immediate triggers, it appears to be part of a chain of events unfolding over more than two months.
This Story is Edited By Rajeev Tyagi
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