A protest over a coal mining project in Chhattisgarh's Tamnar area went violent on Saturday, December 28, 2025. Police officers were injured, and multiple vehicles were set on fire. Protesters stormed the coal handling plant of Jindal Power Limited. They torched a conveyor belt, two tractors, a police bus, a jeep, and an ambulance, and damaged offices. The protest started on December 12 by people from 14 villages who oppose the coal project after a public hearing on December 8. About 300 protesters gathered on Saturday morning, blocking roads and disrupting traffic. Despite police and officials' efforts to calm the crowd early in the day, about 1,000 people joined later. At around 2:30 p.m., the crowd turned violent, breaking police barricades and attacking officers with stones and sticks. Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Anil Vishwakarma, Tamnar police station head Kamla Pusam, and others were seriously hurt. Women police personnel were also injured. The mob set fire to government vehicles and moved on to the Jindal Power coal plant, damaging equipment and offices. Local leaders and officials, including Raigarh Collector Mayank Chaturvedi, tried to pacify the crowd but failed. The police said the situation remains tense but under control, with increased security. Collector Chaturvedi noted that villagers had protested peacefully for 15 days before a few anti-social elements provoked violence. Injured officers are stable, with some sent to Raigarh hospital. Villagers demand the cancellation of the mining project, claiming the public hearing violated rules. One protester, Rajesh Singh Markam, lodged a complaint against the local police officer for threats. Videos on social media showed clashes including a police woman being assaulted. Chhattisgarh Congress chief Deepak Baij called the clash unfortunate and blamed the government’s “stubbornness.” He accused the state of forcibly displacing villagers for coal mining and said the protest was peaceful until provoked by police actions. The district administration is working to identify key troublemakers and restore dialogue.