Jaipur (Rajasthan): As farmers persisted with their protest against the construction of an ethanol plant in Tibbi, located in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district, police registered cases against more than 100 individuals linked to the ensuing violence and detained 40 of them on Thursday (December 11, 2025), reports The New Indian Express.
From early morning, farmers gathered at a gurdwara near Tibbi, while internet services stayed suspended for the second day. Nearly 30 families living close to the plant site left their homes out of fear.
The situation escalated on Wednesday when hundreds of farmers entered the construction site of Dune Ethanol Private Limited in Rathikheda village. Protesters damaged a portion of the boundary wall and set fire to offices and several vehicles.
Police intervention led to clashes, with security personnel using lathis and tear gas. The crowd grew more agitated, and more than a dozen vehicles, including a police jeep, were set ablaze.
Over 50 people, including women, were injured. Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia suffered a head injury and was taken to the district hospital. Schools, colleges, and markets remained closed on Wednesday due to the unrest.
Hanumangarh Collector Dr. Khushal Yadav said the ethanol plant had received all necessary approvals. He said the project was cleared during the Rising Rajasthan Summit in 2022 and had obtained all permissions, from land conversion to pollution control.
He added that while permission was given for a peaceful gathering, “some people ignored prohibitory orders and moved toward the factory.” he said, “A few individuals created trouble by violating the law. Action is being taken against those responsible.”
More than 107 farmers and villagers have been booked for the December 10 violence, and 40 have been detained.
Additional forces from the police, Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), and Home Guards have been deployed in Tibbi and Rathikheda.
Shops reopened on Thursday, and the situation was slightly calmer, but groups of farmers continued gathering at the gurdwara. A key meeting was scheduled for the afternoon to decide future plans.
Several injured women stayed overnight at Gurdwara Singh Sabha. Leaders from the Congress, CPI(M), and farmer organizations in Haryana and Punjab have expressed support for the protest.
Ravjot Singh, a leader of the Factory Removal Struggle Committee, said more than 70 people were injured in Wednesday’s clashes. Over 100 farmers stayed at the gurdwara overnight, and more joined on Thursday.
Farmer groups have insisted that the factory must not be allowed to function until it obtains fresh environmental clearances and gains the consent of local residents.
Dune Ethanol Private Limited, based in Chandigarh and building the grain-based plant, has said the project will help support the central government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme by increasing ethanol production.
The management had already clarified that there will be no pollution from the ethanol plant and that it will significantly benefit the farmers. Ethanol is highly advantageous, it not only raises farmers’ income but also supports the country’s foreign-exchange reserves. Moreover, ethanol production promotes cleaner fuel alternatives, reduces dependence on imported crude oil, and contributes to environmental sustainability. It also creates new employment opportunities in rural areas and strengthens the overall agricultural economy. In this way, ethanol proves to be a key driver of both economic growth and environmental progress.
