A tribal farmer of Vepalagadda, a tribal hamlet in Yellendu mandal, who allegedly attempted suicide on Monday, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Khammam on Tuesday morning.
Sources said that D. Vasram, 68, allegedly ended his life by consuming pesticide distressed over the alleged attempts by the Forest Department staff to dig trenches near the land reportedly under his possession for many years.
Vasram allegedly swallowed insecticide hours before the Forest Department staff made a vain bid to dig trenches using an excavator at Bojjaigudem adjoining Vepalagudem in Yellendu mandal on Monday, sources added.
Protests
The incident evoked protests from the activists of the CPI (ML-New Democracy) and AIKMS in Khammam and Yellendu divisions.
In Khammam, the CPI (ML-ND) activists led by the party district secretary P Ranga Rao staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate on Tuesday afternoon.
Addressing the demonstrators, Mr Ranga Rao alleged that the Forest Department personnel were resorting to “coercive” methods to drive away tribal people from the “podu lands” under the possession of the latter for long.
“Vasram’s death exposed the plight of tribal farmers who are rattled by the coercive tactics unleashed against them,” he charged.
A delegation of the party leaders submitted a memorandum to the officials concerned at the Collectorate demanding ex-gratia to the bereaved family of the deceased farmer and an immediate halt to “coercive action” against the podu cultivators.
D. Vasram consumed pesticide distressed over attempts made by Forest Dept. staff to dig trenches near the land under his possession for many years
