Andhra's Tundurru village witnessed violence on Wednesday, as hundreds of women who were protesting against the Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park, were allegedly lathicharged by the police.
The villagers claimed that they were roughed up, beaten and dragged, while others were detained and arrested.
Ironically, the incident happened on International Women's Day.
According to reports, the women claimed that the Rs 200-crore project in West Godavari district, would dry up their water source, and pollute their environment, making it difficult for them to live in their villages.
The police claimed that the women stepped out despite prohibitory orders that were imposed in the area.
They blocked several routes in the area, picking up people before they could gather and their numbers could swell. Some police personel were also injured.
"We gave representations to the district collector. If the park is operated, groundwater will get polluted. This will extensively threaten public health. We will continue to protest till the government scraps the aqua park," one of the protestors told TOI.
The protests against the food processing plant in the area, have been ongoing since 2012, when the proposal was first approved.
Many political leaders in the state including Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan have extended their support to the cause.
In October last year, the TDP claimed that the project posed no environmental risk.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a for Common Effluent Treatment plant to be set up in the area, while also assuring villagers that they will get compensation.
“The people should be aware that employment generation is possible only through industrial development. Industrialization is must for the development and progress of the district,” he was quoted as saying.