More than 20 people were hurt on Saturday as police used force to disperse about 3,000 trespassers at Khiri Ratthanikhom plantation.

Wimol Cherdchoochon is wanted for allegedly encouraging the group to fight with the police.

The villagers had illegally occupied the 1,600-rai Thaksin Palms plantation on April 25, believing they had the right to acquire land in it. They refused to leave.

A total of 145 villagers have been charged with trespassing and released on bail. Arrest warrants have been issued for five villagers alleged to be leaders of the group.

Provincial Governor Niwat Sawaskaew defended the police from accusations they used excessive force. He said they used the proper level of force, had earlier attempted to negotiate an end to the sit-in and distributed leaflets asking squatters to leave.

The reward is for Wimol only, a source said, adding the man was connected with "old power".

Police intelligence and provincial authorities suggested the occupation could have been politically motivated and designed to cause social disruption and undermine the government.

Police sources said about 200 people from the deep South were "duped" into joining the protest. They have been sent home.

The 145 charged with trespassing are all Surat Thani residents. They told provincial police chief Maj-General Thesa Siriwatho that Wimol was chairman of a privately run body called the Organisation for Land Development for Agricul-ture in the South.

They were each promised 10-rai plots after joining the organisation for free. Plantation owner Thanarak Phongphettra said lost production would cost Bt800,000. He asserted none of the plantation was on public land and his family had run the farm since 1978.

Three of those injured in Saturday's melee were police. One man was shot in the leg as he allegedly attempted to run officers over with a pickup.