Farmers from eight villages losing land under High Tension Power Transmission Lines provided a detailed list of all the affected farmers and presented flowers to the police asking them to register cases against all of them.
The police of Medak town summoned the farmers who had staged a protest at the Collectorate on October 30 demanding that the government pay the compensation as notified by District Collector. The police had registered cases against Andol Krishna, president of Sarpanchula Ikya Vedika and other farmers, and directed them to present themselves at the police station on Friday. The farmers who lost lands under HT lines on Mondy took out a padayatra and staged a dharna at the Collectorate demanding that they be paid right compensation as directed by the Collector. The farmers demanded that Collector Bharati Hollikeri should come out and accept the memorandum of their demands. The Collector rejected their demand to come out of office, but said she was ready to meet representatives of the farmers. Upset by the Collector’s stand the farmers burnt down the memorandum they brought to submit to the Collector. Taking this issue seriously, District Revenue Officer Ramulu lodged a complaint with the police. alleging that some farmers led by Andol Krishna had obstructed them from performing their duties. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against Mr. Krishna and others under Section 353 and 504 of IPC. This was confirmed by Town Circle Inspector Bhaskar.
The police then sent summons to farmers, who presented themselves before the police on Friday. “It was not only Mr. Krishna but we were all there at the Collectorate on the day of agitation. Please register cases against all of us,” the farmers urged the police and presented flowers to press their request. Further, the farmers submitted the list of farmers from their respective villages to the police stating that police were welcome to register cases against all of them as well. However, Mr. Krishna told the police that he was responsible for the agitation on that particular day and asked the police to register cases against him. and not against the protesting farmers.
