Ken-Betwa Protesters Led by Amit Bhatnagar Court Arrest in MP's Panna

Villagers affected by the Majhgai dam, a part of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project, have been protesting on its banks in Panna district since September 12 demanding fair compensation.

The Wire Staff

Villagers affected by the Majhgai dam, a part of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project, have been protesting on its banks in Panna district since September 12 demanding fair compensation.

ken betwa protesters led by amit bhatnagar court arrest in mp s panna

Chhatarpur: Amit Bhatnagar, leader of the protest against the Ken-Betwa Link and other development projects, during the agitation, in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (PTI Photo)(PTI07_19_2026_000538B)

New Delhi: On Wednesday, September 30, protestors in Madhya Pradesh’s Majhgai dam in Panna district marched themselves voluntarily to the local police station as a mark of protest against the police brutality that they allege to have been bearing the brunt of for the past three days.

As a result, police arrested several protestors, including social activist Amit Bhatnagar of the Jai Kisan Sanghathan, who is leading the ongoing protests regarding inadequate and incomplete compensation linked to the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project in the state’s Panna district.

The police had already allegedly arrested several protestors on Monday (September 28) including Divya Ahirwar, who had also been at the forefront of the protests.

Following what locals and protestors have said was the third night of police brutality on the night of September 29, many protestors including Bhatnagar voluntarily marched themselves to the local police station on Wednesday afternoon, as a mark of protest against police action.

Bhatnagar alleged that for the past three days, peaceful protestors including women have been subjected to police action, lathicharges and abusive behaviour. He accused the Panna administration of creating an atmosphere of violence to suppress the agitation.

“Repression will not halt the movement. The agitation will continue even inside the jail, and the fast-unto-death will also go on,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. He is on the third day of his indefinite hunger strike. Describing it as an issue concerning democratic rights, he appealed for voices to be raised across the country in protest.

Meanwhile, the protest which began on September 12 continues. Villagers have demanded that the administration address the issues faced by the affected families – rather than resorting to police action – and provide the announced compensation, ensure proper rehabilitation, and grant eligible families who were left out their due compensations.

This article went live on September thirtieth, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-four minutes past nine at night.

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