Farmer dies after being told to vacate land he tilled for years

A farmer died of cardiac arrest at Haruvanahalli in Hassan taluk hours after the Forest Department officials told him to vacate the land that he tilled, as he was allegedly encroaching upon the forest land. The incident happened on Monday, when forest officials visited the village to clear forest encroachments.

Shivanna (45) complained of chest pain within minutes after the officials visited his farm and warned him of legal action for alleged encroachment.

His family members took him to the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, where doctors declared him brought dead.

His wife, Girijamma, on Friday, told

The Hindu , “We have only one acre of land, which our family has been cultivating for many years.” However, so far, his family members have not filed a complaint accusing the officials as responsible for his death. “He had borrowed loan up to Rs. 4 lakh for a house which is being constructed. He was already worried over clearing the dues. The officials’ action disturbed him further,” his wife said.

The officials visited the village with police personnel and earth movers to evict those who have allegedly encroached forest land in Survey Number 3 of Kallahalli Kaval on June 22. Many farmers staged a protest against being evicted, and later the Forest Department filed a complaint against eight people, including activists of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, in connection with the protest.

Ravindra Kumar, Assistant Conservator of Forests, told

The Hindu that around 241 acres of forest land had been encroached upon for many years. “That day we went there only to vacate only 11 people, who had encroached upon more than three acres of land. Farmers did not allow us to do our work,” he said. Asked about the death of the farmer, the official said he was not aware of the development.

Forest officials allege he had encroached upon forest land