The police foiled attempts of CPI(M) leaders to enter Ilaparru village in Nandiwada Mandal in the district, where some families are agitating against alleged encroachment of their lands. The police arrested CPI(M) State Secretary P. Madhu and others at Nagarappadu while they were going to Ilaparru on Monday.
Tension prevailed in the village when some families belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) community allegedly tried to occupy the fish tank in the village. They have been demanding that the government take necessary steps to give possession of the lands. Their contention is that their lands were encroached upon by affluent people to dig fish tanks.
With Mr. Madhu giving an ultimatum that they would break the fish tanks if the government failed to take action before February 6, the police imposed Section 144 and 145 Cr.P.C. to prevent untoward incidents in the village. Forces were deployed in the village and its vicinity. Additional forces have been deployed at Nandiwada, Ilaparru and Nagavarappadu and pickets were arranged, said the police.
The roads leading to Ilaparru were under tight security cordon. Thorough frisking and checking were done by the police. Mr. Madhu, however, gave a slip to the police and managed to go up to Nagarappadu village in Gudivada mandal. The police took him and others into custody near Nagarappadu bridge. CPI(M) leaders Y. Venkateshwara Rao, Umamaheshwara Rao and others were among the arrested. The agitating families said that the officials declared that the lands belonged to them but did not take any steps to restore ownership.
The BC and OC cultivators argue that they are doing aquaculture in the land by forming societies and they have equal right on the land. A few families approached the court and the matter was sub-judice. “About 104 families were doing aquaculture in the land in Ilaparru, of which 60 families were SCs. But, they were demanding to give the land completely for them,” said a resident.
The Left parties, including CPI, CPI(ML) New Democracy, CPI(ML), MCPI(U), CPI( ML) Liberation, SUCI, Forward Bloc, and Revolutionary Socialist Party have condemned the arrests.
