Medha Patkar arrested along with five others      

Medha Patkar, who has been on an indefinite fast for the past 12 days, was forcibly lifted from the dharna site in Chikalda in Madhya Pradesh on Monday evening. Along with her, five other fasting protesters were also arrested.

There are six others who are continuing their fast.

Nearly 2000 policemen were at the fast site and they came down heavily on those fasting. They used force to break the marquee and when women tried resisting the arrest of Patkar, they were beaten and manhandled by male policemen, said eyewitness accounts.

Several of the women suffered injuries. The police however dismantled the stage, the awning, broke chairs and the rope fencing. Activists complained that though in these past twelve days, Madhya Pradesh government made no attempt to enter into a dialogue with Medha Patkar and the affected people, police was sent to break the fast and arrest her.

Narmada Bachao Andolan members strongly condemned police action and resolved that the agitation would continue. “Patkar will continue to fast and so will others. We are not going to be cowed down by this,” said a statement released by NBA.

Here are a few images from the site: