Ken-Betwa Protest Leader Detained After 14-Day Fast; 150 Protesters Removed
The Madhya Pradesh Police on Sunday detained Ken-Betwa protest leader Amit Bhatnagar and approximately 150 other demonstrators from the protest site at Kupi village in Chhatarpur district, ending a two-week agitation against the Rs 44,605-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project.
Bhatnagar had been on an indefinite fast for 14 days, emerging as the face of protests over alleged irregularities in land acquisition, rehabilitation, and compensation for families affected by the project. The detention occurred early Sunday morning, with police in riot gear deploying at the site as protesters waded into the Ken River to maintain distance.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Chhatarpur) Aditya Patle stated, "Bhatnagar has not been arrested. He was on a fast for two weeks, and taking his health into account, we detained him and took him to the local hospital for treatment." Patle added that the other 150 protesters were detained and transported by bus to Panna district, claiming, "Our investigation showed these are not people from the locality but from Panna who had issues with other dam projects."
The Ken-Betwa Link Project, India's first river-linking initiative, aims to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa basin through the Daudhan Dam and a network of canals. Its stated objectives include providing irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The project requires the displacement of nearly 2,000 families from villages falling within the reservoir's submergence area, leading to sustained protests.
Bhatnagar, a social activist who has worked on displacement and rehabilitation issues in Bundelkhand for several years, has been involved in campaigns related to land acquisition, environmental compliance, and the rights of project-affected families. Since July 3, he led the Kupi protest, which drew displaced villagers from Daudhan, Palkhua, Sukwaha, and neighbouring settlements demanding fresh surveys, correction of compensation records, and action on alleged irregularities.
Hours before his detention, Bhatnagar, visibly frail after two weeks without food, spoke to reporters from a cot under a tarpaulin at the protest site. He paused frequently to sip water before resuming conversations. Over the past fortnight, he participated in symbolic protests, including lying on mock funeral cots and erecting symbolic funeral pyres to dramatise what demonstrators called the "death" of villages facing submergence under the Daudhan reservoir.
He alleged irregularities in the land acquisition process, claiming, "The government has not been fair and transparent. There are many irregularities in the disbursement of compensation." Bhatnagar pointed to identical word-for-word entries in Gram Panchayat proceedings registers of several villages, and questioned the authenticity of Gram Sabha meetings recorded at the same timestamp on February 17 and 18, 2022. He further alleged that around Rs 11 crore was sanctioned as compensation for houses in Kharihani village, but documents suggested nearly Rs 8 crore was paid to individuals with no connection to the village or who had migrated away decades ago.
The police action drew mixed reactions, with authorities emphasising concerns for Bhatnagar's health during the prolonged fast, while protest supporters condemned the detention. The Ken-Betwa Link Project continues to be a contentious issue, balancing developmental goals against the rights of displaced communities.
