Jaipur, Jan. 8 -- A farmers' mahapanchayat was held on Wednesday at Sangaria's Dhan Mandi in Hanumangarh district against the proposed Dune Ethanol Private Limited factory at Rathikheda in Tibbi tehsil. Led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan, a large group of farmers reached Sangaria carrying flags of the struggle committee and wearing yellow turbans. Farmers from Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar districts, along with participants from Haryana and Punjab, attended the gathering. During the mahapanchayat, farmers reiterated their key demands - cancellation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed for the ethanol factory and withdrawal of cases registered against protesting farmers. The farmers also announced another mahapanchayat on February 11 at Talwara village in Tibbi tehsil to intensify the agitation. In view of the large turnout and possible law and order concerns, the administration suspended internet services in the Tibbi and Sangaria areas and imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Hanumangarh superintendent of police Hari Shankar said, "Internet services were suspended and Section 163 enforced, while more than 1,800 police personnel were deployed to maintain peace." The administration remained on high alert throughout the day. Heavy police deployment was made across Sangaria, and barricades were put up on all four main entry points to the town since Tuesday night. Entry of outsiders was allowed only after verification. Officials said lessons were drawn from the earlier Tibbi incident, and all precautionary measures were taken to avoid any untoward situation. The mahapanchayat was held weeks after the state government constituted a five-member committee on December 17 to probe the controversial project. Farmers had intensified their protest, declaring they would continue until the factory was shut down. On December 10, a similar mahapanchayat at the Tibbi collectorate premises turned violent after protesters allegedly broke the factory's boundary wall with a tractor. At least 16 vehicles were torched, following which police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Around 70 protesters, including Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia, were injured. Police later registered FIRs against 107 protesters and arrested 40 people, including Congress MLA Rupinder Kooner. Wednesday's Mahapanchayat was attended by several Congress and CPI(M) leaders along with farmer organisations. Addressing the gathering, Ugrahan said the farmers had only two demands - to close the factory by cancelling the MoU and withdrawal of FIRs against farmers. He alleged the factory would release toxic water and waste, damaging agricultural fields. Former Bhadra MLA Balwan Poonia said the factory would not be allowed to come up on fertile land in Rathikheda. "The government can set up the factory elsewhere, but we will not allow it on farmers' productive land. Since the government has not issued a written order cancelling the MoU, there is no trust in administration," he said. Farmer leader Bhana Singh Sidhu also raised concerns over pollution, saying the ethanol factory would contaminate water sources and pollute the air, severely affecting public health. He alleged that political interests were being prioritised over the well-being of local residents. The ethanol plant, commissioned under the "Rising Rajasthan" initiative in 2020 with an investment of around Rs.450 crore, has a proposed capacity of 1,320 kilo litres per day, making it Asia's largest such plant. The factory is expected to require nearly 6,000 kilo litres of fresh water per day, which farmers say will adversely impact the region's environment and agriculture....