Shops and markets remained closed as part of the bandh call given by Pithampur Bachao Samiti, which claimed the planned incineration of the waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy would harm local residents and the environment of the region.Dhar Additional Superintendent of Police Indrajeet Singh Bakarwal confirmed the presence of children in the protests.On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, killing at least 5,479 persons and leaving thousands with serious and long-lasting health issues in Bhopal.The authorities have shifted 337 tonnes of waste from the Carbide factory to Pithampur for scientific disposal, though the move has triggered protests. The material from Bhopal reached an incineration unit in Pithampur on Thursday.During the protests, a group blocked the road near Eicher Motors, but police prevailed over them and restored normalcy after a mild cane charge. A mob of 500-600 persons marched to the Ramky Group’s Industrial Waste Management Private Limited premises, where the waste is set to be incinerated, but police managed to disperse them in time.Officials said police had to resort to mild lathi-charge at some places to disperse protesters.Sandeep Raghuvanshi, who has been on a hunger strike at the bus stand since Thursday, said a large number of people have expressed solidarity with him over his protest against the disposal of the Union Carbide waste in Pithampur.Meanwhile, heavy police deployment has been made in Pithampur to maintain law and order. Barricades came up on several roads in the town, while police teams moved about trying to pacify protesters in a bid to bring back normalcy.At several places, SP Singh spoke to protesters assuring them that the waste disposal would take place only after citizens are taken into confidence.The Madhya Pradesh High Court had on December 3 rebuked the authorities for not clearing the Union Carbide site in Bhopal despite court directives, including that of the Supreme Court.It had set a four-week deadline to shift the waste, observing that even 40 years after the gas tragedy, authorities were in a “state of inertia.”The HC had warned the government of contempt proceedings if its directive was not followed.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday addressed doubters and said the issue should not be politicised. He asserted the waste comprised 60 percent mud and 40 percent naphthol used to make pesticide methyl isocyanate (MIC) and was “not at all harmful.”
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