Birdshot fired at protesters in Saravan, Gilan; 22 detained
Coinciding with the circulation of images showing the effects of birdshot on the bodies of protesters in Saravan, Gilan, law enforcement officials in the province announced that 22 people were detained during a gathering of Saravan residents protesting the accumulation of waste in the area, with their cases currently under review by judicial authorities.
According to FARS news agency, Majid Rasoulzadeh, the cultural and social deputy of law enforcement in Gilan, described the detainees as “opportunists” and claimed they sought to “create insecurity” and “exploit the legitimate demands of Saravan residents.”
The law enforcement official accused those detained of intending to obstruct the reopening of the Saravan waste site through “stone-throwing and physical confrontations,” stating that “five law enforcement officers” were injured as a result of the stone-throwing.
These statements come as the peaceful gathering of Saravan residents protesting the massive accumulation of waste on forested lands in the area turned violent on Thursday, the 8th of Ordibehesht, following police intervention, and based on videos circulated on social media, police dispersed protesters using warning shots and tear gas.
Based on videos from the beginning of the gathering, residents had chanted peaceful slogans and some even presented flowers to police officers stationed in the area.
However, hours after the gathering began, social media users circulated images showing police firing birdshot at the protesters, with some of them being injured.
The transfer and accumulation of waste covering approximately 16 hectares of forested land in the Saravan area of Rasht, which recently reached a height exceeding 90 meters, has been a major problem in this region for years.
The head of the Rasht Municipality’s waste management organization had previously stated that with daily waste entering this facility, an average of between 5.30 to 6.30 liters per second of leachate is produced annually and enters underground water aquifers.
The production of this leachate, in addition to environmental pollution and foul odors, has contaminated underground water sources, affected livestock and poultry breeding, polluted rivers, Lake Anzali and the Caspian Sea, contaminated rice fields and fruit orchards, as well as caused skin diseases in neighboring areas.
Asadollah Abbasi, the governor of Gilan, stated on the 14th of Esfand 1400 while visiting the area, saying “our problem is not merely budgetary, but rather managerial,” that “starting tomorrow, dedicated efforts must be made to resolve the waste disposal problem in the area.”
Source: Radio Farda
