Farmer’s death triggers protests in Chickballapur, Kolar districts

Anandakumar consumed poison on Wednesday, dies in Victoria Hospital

The death of a farmer in Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru, on Friday sparked spontaneous violent protests in Chickballapur and Kolar districts.

Anandakumar (32), a resident of Angarekanahalli in Chickballapur taluk, consumed pesticide in front of Chickballapur Deputy Commissioner M.V. Venkatesh at the DC office complex on Wednesday, resenting attempts by officials to auction the cashew crop grown by him in gomala land at Avalahalli village. Other farmers who were present there immediately rushed Kumar to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, where he died in the early hours of Friday.

As the news of Kumar’s death spread, the residents of his native village and farmers in both the districts got furious and started protests. The situation, particularly in Angarekanahalli, was tense as the residents tried to gherao the house of Block Congress president Krsihnamurthy, who allegedly was trying since a long time to evict Kumar from the latter’s land.

The Janata Dal (Secular), with which Kumar was reportedly associated, also joined hands in the protests along with Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and other organisations.

Ire against MLA

Hundreds of farmers staged a protest at Sidlaghat Circle in Chickballapur. The agitators tore flexes of local Congress MLA K. Sudhakar to express their ire.

In Kolar, the functionaries of KRRS formed a human chain at Mekke Circle condemning the death of the farmer. “The death of Kumar is a glaring example of administration’s negligence towards farmers’ woes”, the protesters alleged.

Father’s charge

“Form No. 53 has been submitted to the Tahsildar in 1998 requesting for grant of the land. However, some gram panchayat members and officers wanted to auction the cashew crop without giving any prior notice. My son was upset over this and consumed poison in a suicide bid,” Hanumantharayappa, father of Anandakumar, said.