Davangere: Furious that stone-quarrying activities in the village was damaging their houses and properties besides resulting in drinking water scarcity, hundreds of residents of Doddabbigere near Santhebennur in the district barged into the stone crusher units in the area and set fire to bikes, trucks and a generator on Sunday night.
Hanumantha, the owner of the unit and several labourers in the stone crusher units were injured in the clashes between them and the village residents.
The residents staged a snap protest claiming that the stone quarrying activities, going on in the village for years, had resulted in drinking water scarcity, pollution and cracks in the houses and urged the government and the district administration to ban the same. They also stated that owing to the movement of stone-laden trucks the road connecting their villages had been damaged.
Senior police officials visited the spot. Two platoons of KSRP have been deployed there. So far thirteen residents of Doddabbigere have been booked for the incident while many have left the village, fearing arrests.
One bike, an earthmover, generator, several trucks belonging to various stone crusher units were damaged in the incident. Police estimated the losses at Rs 35 lakh.
A case stands registered with the Chikkajajur police.
