By A Staff Reporter

MUMBAI: The police roughed up at least 400 anti-dam activists and Adivasis when they staged a sit-in protest in Dhadgaon, Nandurbar district, on Thursday.

According to a Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) spokesperson, the activists were protesting against the government using the police in its dealings with them.

``They were demanding that the government interact with them through a responsible official such as the chief secretary,'' said Sanjay Sanghvi of the NBA.

The activists, including Medha Patkar, had been arrested and taken away from the satyagraha villages after the water rose to neck level.

NBA sources said the police roughed up the activists before hauling them off to the Dhadgoan court where they were charged with unlawful activities and obstructing the state's work. They were also charged with violating the prohibitory order, against assembly of people, which was promulgated in the district on Wednesday.

The court granted eight days police custody and the activists were taken to the lock-up in Dhule.