The Jharkhand Police detained former state minister Yogendra Sao and his wife, ex-MLA Nirmala Devi, at the NTPC’s Chatti Bariatu coal mining project site in Hazaribagh district. The couple was leading an agitation with local villagers over land acquisition and compensation issues. Multiple cases have been filed against them in various police stations for their involvement in protests and disruptions.
Yogendra Sao and Nirmala Devi have been protesting in the Chatti Bariatu mining area for months, demanding better compensation for acquired land and proper rehabilitation of affected families. Their indefinite sit-in at the project site since December 31, 2025, has disrupted mining and coal transportation operations. Police detained both leaders during the protest and initiated legal action against them.
Recently, Yogendra Sao met senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi before returning to the protest site. The Chatti Bariatu coal mine, operated by NTPC Mining Limited, has an annual production capacity of seven million tonnes. The company has faced financial losses exceeding Rs 224 crore due to repeated disruptions over the past two years, affecting its operations significantly.
Yogendra Sao has criticized the company for inadequate compensation for land acquired in the mining zone. He alleges that neither the administration nor the company has engaged in meaningful dialogue to address the grievances of affected villagers. Despite the company’s claims of implementing compensation and rehabilitation packages beyond legal requirements, disruptions have led to revenue losses for the state government and impacted employment opportunities.
