Neyveli NLC Protest 2023: PMK Siege, Anbumani Arrest, Violence

On 28 July 2023 the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by its president Anbumani Ramadoss, tried to besiege NLC India Ltd's gate at Neyveli in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district, two days after the public sector company sent earthmovers through standing paddy at Valayamadevi to dig a canal on land it had acquired between 2006 and 2013. When police detained Anbumani, party workers threw stones, police used batons, water cannon and tear gas and fired warning shots, and 26 people were later remanded. On 2 August the Madras High Court fixed crop compensation at Rs 40,000 an acre, splitting the blame between the farmers and NLC. Fresh acquisition notices in 2026 have kept the dispute alive.

197PMK members held on 28 July, including Anbumani, and released that evening, per police (ANI)

26arrested and sent to judicial custody, per police; the PMK later put its arrested cadres at 55

8 + 6police personnel and journalists injured, per The South First

Rs 40,000an acre in crop compensation fixed by the Madras High Court on 2 Aug 2023

88farmers whose standing crops were damaged, per NLC and the state

Rs 25 lakhminimum land compensation an acre for agricultural land, per the Union Coal Ministry

Key takeaways

NLC India acquired about 304 hectares in five villages near Neyveli between 2006 and 2013 for its Mine II expansion, but left part of it unused, and farmers kept growing paddy on it.
On 26 July 2023 NLC began digging a diversion channel for the Paravanar river across that land at Valayamadevi, under police protection, before the crop was harvested. NLC said the work was needed to keep its mines from flooding and that farmers had been told not to cultivate.
On 28 July the PMK protest at NLC's arch gate turned violent after Anbumani Ramadoss was detained. Police said 197 people were held and released, and 26 were remanded; the PMK said police attacked first.
The Madras High Court held that farmers had no legal right to cultivate acquired land, but that NLC had let them do so for years. It fixed Rs 40,000 an acre, between the Rs 30,000 offered and the Rs 80,000 sought.
The DMK government argued in court that the farmers had been compensated and warned, and its ministers had led talks that raised minimum land compensation to Rs 25 lakh an acre.
In 2026, under the TVK government, the PMK again opposed new notifications for NLC mine expansion, and the Industries Minister said affected people would not be abandoned.

Background: land acquired, but not taken

NLC India Ltd, formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation, is a central public sector lignite miner and power producer. Between 2006 and 2013 it acquired over 304 hectares from five villages in Cuddalore district. It used about 273 hectares, and farmers kept cultivating the rest, which was in NLC's legal possession The South First. The land was acquired under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997, for a Paravanar canal diversion linked to Mine II LiveLaw.

Land losers' grievances were long-standing. In May 2022 Labour Minister CV Ganesan told the Assembly the government would take steps on compensation and permanent jobs for families losing land to NLC's Mine III, after consulting Chief Minister MK Stalin.News Today.

The first flashpoint came on 9 March 2023, when NLC began levelling land at Valayamadevi. Vikatan reported heavy policing, arrests of political leaders and a temporary halt Vikatan (Tamil). AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the levelling "under the protection of hundreds of policemen"DT Next. The PMK called a day-long protest, policed by over 7,000 personnel Swarajya. In April Anbumani wrote to Stalin asking him to stop acquisition for NLC expansion DT Next.

How it started: earthmovers in the paddy

On Wednesday 26 July 2023 NLC began building an alternative channel for the Paravanar river in Bhuvanagiri taluk, with police protection, to protect its mines from monsoon flooding. The district administration said it had told farmers in advance and advised them not to cultivate the land PTI via Devdiscourse. Farmers at Valayamadevi said they had asked NLC for time until the harvest The South First.

Images of excavators in green fields spread on social media Vikatan (Tamil). Farmers said the compensation paid a decade earlier was inadequate, and that NLC had not kept its promise of jobs for land-losing families The South First.

BJP state president K Annamalai objected to the "manner of acquiring lands using earthmovers to destroy paddy crop" and said: "Destroying standing paddy crop is unfair." DMDK founder Vijayakanth said land should be acquired only with owners' approval PTI via Devdiscourse. Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan called the crop destruction unacceptable, and Kamal Haasan asked NLC to drop its expansion plan DT Next.

28 July: the siege and the violence

The PMK had announced a siege of NLC, and police said permission was denied ANI. At the protest Anbumani condemned the state government for handing farmland to NLC and demanded that NLC leave the state The News Minute.

28 Jul 2023, morning
Protest at the arch gate
Thousands of PMK cadres gathered near NLC's arch gate ANI. After addressing them, Anbumani tried to enter NLC with supporters and was stopped and detained PTI via Deccan Herald.
28 Jul 2023
Stones and windshields
Cadres blocked the police vehicle carrying Anbumani The South First. According to TV reports cited by The News Minute, protesters threw stones at the gate and at police vehicles and smashed the windshields of two police vehicles The News Minute. Police said they were attacked "with stones and water bottles" ANI.
28 Jul 2023
Batons, water cannon, tear gas, warning shots
Police used a baton charge, water cannon and tear gas, then fired in the air. The South First reported three rounds; The News Minute said "a couple of rounds" The South First The News Minute. Police said it took nearly 45 minutes to restore order.
28 Jul 2023, afternoon
Shops shut, buses halted
Shops closed, public transport was suspended, over 2,000 police were deployed and DGP Shankar Jiwal headed to Neyveli The South First. Road blockades and tyre burning were reported, and PMK workers were arrested at protests across the northern districts ANI Vikatan (Tamil).
28 Jul 2023, evening
Anbumani released
Police said 197 PMK members, including Anbumani, were held at a mahal and released by evening ANI.

Injuries and arrests: the figures

Injured: At least eight police personnel, including the Neyveli inspector, and six journalists, The South First reported The South First. PTI quoted a senior official saying stones injured a police inspector PTI via Deccan Herald. Anbumani said some party members were hurt in the baton charge; no count of injured protesters appeared in the sources reviewed.
Arrests: On 29 July police said 26 people had been arrested and sent to judicial custody, and two juveniles sent to an observation home ANI. Anbumani gave the same figure of 26 that day The News Minute. A week later he said 55 party members had been arrested DT Next.
Cases: Police said 21 cases were registered over road blockades, tyre burning and vandalism,, and a total of 93 cases ANI. Claim · Anbumani Ramadoss He said IPC sections for murder and criminal intimidation had been added DT Next.

The protesters' account and the official account

PMK and farmers' account

Claim · PMK Anbumani said the protest was peaceful PTI via Deccan Herald. On 29 July he said: "It was the police who attacked our cadre and created a tense situation. But they blamed us and arrested 26 of our cadres." He called threatening farmers with police force cowardice and asked of the Collector's compensation: "Can we eat the compensation?" The News Minute. He later said jailed workers "were not terrorists", and claimed Tamil Nadu produces 36,000 MW against a need of 18,000 MW, with NLC contributing 800 MW, so the state does not need NLC DT Next.

Police, NLC and government account

Government's position Police said the PMK tried to enter NLC without permission and attacked them with stones and water bottles ANI. A senior official said force was used only after cadres refused to disperse PTI via Deccan Herald. NLC said no new land was being acquired: it was only diverting a canal on land it already owned, to prevent its mines flooding PTI via Devdiscourse. Its officials said farmers had encroached on the unfenced land from 2006 and had been compensated The News Minute.

The DMK government's position and compensation

In the High Court on 31 July, Additional Advocate General J Ravindran said adequate compensation and ex gratia had been paid, and called the situation "the outcome of conscious risk taken by the farmers". He said a December 2022 meeting under the Collector had agreed possession would be taken after the Pongal harvest, and notices were circulated, but farmers kept cultivating. Farmers could harvest standing crops until 15 September 2023 and then hand over the land DT Next.

The Cuddalore Collector told the court that compensation of Rs 30,000 an acre would be paid for crops damaged by the canal work Verdictum. NLC said it handed over cheques at that rate on 29 July NLC statement via Sarkaritel.

On land prices, the Union Coal Ministry told the Rajya Sabha in August 2023 that talks chaired by the state's Agriculture and Labour Ministers had raised the minimum for farmland to Rs 25 lakh an acre: Rs 23 lakh under a state order of 25 August 2022, plus Rs 2 lakh ex gratia. It listed contract jobs for 1,000 project-affected people, one per family, and said "Most of the landowners have accepted the new benefits" PIB.

The CPI(M), a DMK ally, called the crop destruction "condemnable" but rejected the PMK's demand to close NLC DT Next.

What the Madras High Court said

Farmer Murugan of Valayamadevi asked the court to halt NLC until his harvest. His lawyer cited Section 101 of the 2013 land acquisition law, under which land not used within five years must be returned. Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, for NLC, said the section postdated the acquisition and the mine would flood in the monsoon if work stopped. Justice SM Subramaniam declined to order the land returned, but asked why NLC had let farmers cultivate for 16 years, saying it had created false hope and should have fenced the land DT Next.

Hearing an NLC labour dispute, Justice M Dhandapani asked why NLC could not wait two months for the harvest after years of inaction. He said he felt like crying at the sight of bulldozers digging through crops, and that compensation could not undo it, Vikatan reported Vikatan (Tamil).

On 2 August Justice Subramaniam's interim order held that acquired land vests in the government and further entry is trespass, but that "peculiarly cultivation is going on for many years and the farmers were also made to believe that it will take long time" for NLC to use it Verdictum. He fixed liability 50:50 and set Rs 40,000 an acre for 88 affected farmers, payable by 6 August The South First. No cultivation was allowed after the harvest; most reports give 15 September 2023 as the deadline, LiveLaw gives 19 September LiveLaw. NLC said it paid the extra Rs 10,000 an acre, with cheques available from 4 August NLC statement via Sarkaritel.

Outcome

Detentions: 197 held and released on 28 July, per police.
Arrests: 26 remanded and two juveniles sent to an observation home, per police; the PMK later said 55 were arrested.
Injuries: At least 8 police and 6 journalists, per The South First; no deaths reported.
Compensation: Rs 40,000 an acre for crops, fixed by the High Court and paid by NLC; Rs 25 lakh an acre minimum for land.

Later developments, 2023 to 2026

In August 2023 the PMK said it would fight NLC's proposed third mine over about 12,500 acres, noting nine of 26 villages were in a protected agricultural zone The News Minute. In April 2025 the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board told the National Green Tribunal that mercury in some surface water near NLC was up to 115 times the permissible limit The News Minute.

In May 2026 the left group Makkal Athikaram said residents of Thenkuthu village blocked the Chennai-Kumbakonam highway when NLC began digging near the village under police guard Vinavu (Tamil). In the Assembly in August 2026, PMK MLA Sowmya Anbumani said NLC had affected about 40,000 acres and wanted 60,000 more. Industries Minister Keerthana said the TVK government would not abandon people affected by NLC projects, noting NLC is a central undertaking; a DMK MLA said the previous government had secured extra compensation and Rs 100 crore a year in CSR support News Today.

On 20 September 2026 Anbumani condemned the Vijay-led TVK government's notifications for a SIPCOT estate and NLC expansion UNI. These included 12.60 acres at Kangaikondan for Mine I and 3.21 acres at Vanathirayapuram for Mine 1A, all residential plots, and he warned of mass agitation The Hans India. No court ruling on the 2023 criminal cases appeared in the sources reviewed.

Questions people ask

Why did the PMK protest against NLC in July 2023?

On 26 July 2023 NLC began digging a Paravanar river diversion channel through standing paddy at Valayamadevi, on land it had acquired between 2006 and 2013. The PMK demanded an end to acquisition of farmland and that NLC leave Tamil Nadu.

Was Anbumani Ramadoss arrested at Neyveli?

He was detained on 28 July 2023 when he tried to enter NLC's premises. Police said he and 196 others were held at a mahal and released that evening.

How many people were arrested and injured?

Police said 26 people were remanded and two juveniles sent to an observation home. The South First reported at least eight police and six journalists injured. The PMK later put arrests at 55.

Did police open fire at Neyveli?

Police fired in the air after a baton charge, water cannon and tear gas. Reports say three rounds or "a couple of rounds".

What compensation did the High Court order?

On 2 August 2023 it fixed Rs 40,000 an acre for damaged crops, splitting blame equally between farmers who cultivated acquired land and NLC, which let them for years. NLC said it paid by 6 August.

What does NLC pay for land?

The Coal Ministry said the minimum for farmland is Rs 25 lakh an acre, including Rs 2 lakh ex gratia, plus jobs and resettlement benefits. Farmers said in 2023 that the compensation paid when their land was acquired a decade earlier was inadequate.

Is the NLC land dispute over?

No. In 2026 the PMK opposed new notifications for NLC mine expansion and villagers protested, while the state government said it would not abandon those affected.

Neyveli, July 2023: the PMK protest against NLC's land takeover