Special forces injure several women near Vitez while trying to stop construction of mini hydropower plant

Members of the Special Unit of the Ministry of Interior of the Central Bosnia Canton injured several women this morning in the village of Kruščica near Vitez, including pregnant women, after the women tried to block the construction of a mini hydropower plant in this village, the Patria agency reports.

Residents have been blocking a local bridge for several days to prevent machinery from reaching the construction site, but special forces removed them from the bridge this morning, injuring several women.

Resident Muris Đelilović confirmed to Patria that the special forces arrived to ensure an unobstructed passage for the machinery, which led to the use of force.

„It was horrifying,“ said Đelilović, visibly upset.

The dispute between the residents of Kruščica and the investor has been ongoing for years. Đelilović accuses former SDA mayor Advan Akeljić of granting concessions for some of the most beautiful parts of their village to the company HIGRACON d.o.o. Sarajevo. The current HDZ mayor Tomislav Bošnjak-Matić supports the investor and refuses to help the residents of Kruščica.

„The story about the construction of two mini hydropower plants on the Kruščica River began during the term of municipality mayor Vlado Alilović. He refused to grant a concession for the Kruščica River at the time, despite enormous pressure from the SDA to do so. When Alilović left office, the SDA mayor Akeljić granted the concession for the river, and the current authorities continued to support the project,“ said Đelilović.

The residents are seeking help from higher levels of government. The village generates income from the river and does not want anyone to take away this wealth.