Turkish troops and police attacked villagers of two small hamlets in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority district of Cizre (Cizîr) on Monday after a dispute broke out between the villagers and the employees of a power company.
The villagers reportedly reacted to the employees of Dicle Power Distribution Company (DEDAS) installing electric metres on top of poles as a preventive measure against manipulation of the electric metres.
The protesting residents of the hamlets Newala İsaaxa ve Zuran were then attacked by Turkish troops with water cannons and tear gas, as police units arrived in support in armoured vehicles designed to intervene in protests.
At least 20 villagers were arrested, including nine members of the Ruvanas family. A. Ruvanas, one of the detainees, was taken to the hospital for treatment because of a health condition.
The price of electricity in Turkey has seen a record increase since the beginning of the year. An increase of 125% was introduced 3 January, and a further increase of 30% followed 1 June.
People engaged in agricultural production in rural areas are dependent on electricity in production even more severely than they are in domestic consumption.