Madhya Pradesh Police Clear Tribal Protest Against River Project

Madhya Pradesh Police cleared a tribal protest site on the banks of the Barana river near Kupi village in Chhatarpur district on July 19, 2026. The demonstration, known as Chita Andolan, had lasted 17 days and opposed the ₹44,000-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project and other irrigation works. Protesters, primarily tribal women, demanded better rehabilitation and an inquiry into alleged project corruption totaling ₹400 crore.

During a pre-dawn operation, police forcibly removed the demonstrators and shifted protest leader Amit Bhatnagar, who had been on a hunger strike for up to 14 days, to Bijawar Civil Hospital. District officials, including Chhatarpur Collector Parth Jaiswal, justified the action as a safety measure necessitated by rising river levels and Bhatnagar's deteriorating health. While officials denied that any arrests were made, protesters alleged that the administration acted to prevent Bhatnagar from releasing documents regarding project irregularities.

Opposition leader Umang Singhar condemned the police action as an undemocratic suppression of dissent. The Government of Madhya Pradesh maintains that the project is of national importance for the water supply and irrigation of the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.