The police also arrested five villagers for stone-pelting.

The protesting villagers criticised Arki MLA Govind Ram Sharma for not taking up their issue with the government.

The villagers alleged that the MLA was siding with the company’s management.

Some officials of the J P Cement today started demolishing buildings at Samtyari village. As soon as the news spread, hundreds of villagers, including elected representatives of the Gram Panchayat of Bagga, reached the spot and resisted the move of the company officials.

The land had been allotted to the company by the government after completing the process of acquisition and awarding adequate compensation to the villagers last year.

Some villagers had allegedly started constructing buildings on the acquired land.

Soon after the officials started the demolishing operations, some of the villagers allegedly started pelting stones.

Denying any stone-pelting incident, Superintendent of Police S P S Verma claimed that amid minor protest, some portions of buildings were demolished as per the order. He said the police were trying to pacify the agitated villagers to maintain peace. He said five villagers were arrested today.