Sangli: A major clash erupted at a sugar factory located in a drought-affected area on Wednesday night over a land dispute. Groups of youths from the local village as well as nearby Solapur and Sangola reportedly carried out the attack. The conflict appears to have been triggered by disagreements over agricultural land, reports Daily Sakal.
During the incident, the factory office and the residences of the factory chairman suffered damage. To avoid confrontation, the factory chairman chose to leave his home, which allowed the crowd to act with impunity and attempt to create panic. The two-hour unrest lasted from 6 pm to 8 pm, during which factory staff were present but were powerless against the threatening mob.
The dispute originated over land between the factory and nearby farmers. Previously, alternative land had been provided to settle the matter, and purchase agreements had been executed for both transactions. However, a third party had taken control of the land that the factory had allocated to the farmer, prompting the group to demand that the factory remove the encroachment and return the land. This disagreement had been escalating over the past few days, and the involvement of local leaders reportedly worsened the situation.
The factory chairman did not return to his residence the following day. Administrative offices remained closed throughout Thursday, and officials were uncertain whether to file a complaint with the police. Tensions continued all day, and some factory employees visited the police station late at night to report the incident, but no formal complaint had been registered by then.
