Dilawarpur, Telangana:- Protests against the establishment of an ethanol factory in Telangana's Nirmal district turned violent on Wednesday, injuring police personnel and escalating tensions in the area. Villagers from Dilawarpur mandal, who have been protesting for two days, blocked the Nirmal-Bhainsa national highway, demanding the factory's relocation.

Women protestors were seen carrying bottles of pesticides, threatening suicide to halt the construction. The protestors marched through the village, holding placards and shouting slogans, before coming to a halt on the highway. At one point, the protestors clashed with police personnel, resulting in injuries.

Villagers allege that the factory, owned by a private firm, will harm their crops and livelihoods, impacting the environment. They claim a lack of support from public representatives in their opposition to the project. The protestors have vowed to continue their agitation until their demand is met.

Tensions escalated further on Tuesday night when some protestors attempted to attack Nirmal Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Ratna Kalyani and vandalized her vehicle. The RDO was visiting the protest site to hold talks with the agitators but was met with demands for the District Collector's presence and the reinstatement of a teacher suspended for supporting the movement. As the RDO was leaving, angry protestors tried to stop her vehicle, leading to her fainting due to a drop in blood pressure. She was immediately taken to a hospital in Nirmal by the vehicle of Superintendent of Police Dr Janaki Sharmila.

Following the incident, unidentified individuals damaged and set fire to the RDO's vehicle. Police intervened and extinguished the fire. Police have booked 23 villagers for the vandalism.

Vehicular movement on the highway resumed around 11 p.m. but was halted again on Wednesday morning as villagers resumed their protest. Villagers staged a sit-in on the highway from morning till late night, cooking food, building bonfires, and engaging in other activities that completely stopped vehicle movement.