Farmers protesting against an ethanol factory in Tibbi, Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan, turned violent on Wednesday. More than 100 people have been booked, and 40 detained by police on December 11, 2025. About 30 local families fled homes fearing the unrest. The conflict started when protesters clashed with police, setting vehicles ablaze and damaging the factory site. Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia suffered a head injury in the police lathicharge. On December 12, an 11-member farmers delegation met district officials demanding a stop to the factory’s construction, a judicial probe into the violence, and withdrawal of cases against protesters. Hanumangarh Collector Khushaal Yadav said their demands will be forwarded to the state government. Tensions remain high as farmers and opposition leaders gathered at Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Tibbi. Arrests include Karanpur MLA Rupinder Singh Kooner and Youth Congress district chief Karan Saharan, detained en route to the meeting. Farmers claim the factory will cause air pollution and water toxicity, damaging farmland and threatening livelihoods. All India Kisan Sabha leader Mangej Choudhary called it a “livelihood crisis.” Dune Ethanol Private Limited, the company building the 40 MW ethanol plant at a cost of ₹450 crore, says the project supports the Government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol programme. Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said the land was allotted during the previous Congress regime and criticized attacks on the factory. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel called the incident a "political ploy" sponsored by Congress and accused outsiders of violence. Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP government of suppressing the farmers, saying, "The BJP government’s arrogance is at its peak. Instead of listening to the farmers, the government is running dictatorship."