MACHILIPATNAM:Demanding immediate withdrawal of notification issued for land acquisition, farmers from six villages staged dharna and rasta roko on Bandar-Gudivada road with support of opposition parties on Thursday.
Protesting farmers said they are not against the port development, for which necessary land had already been acquired. They said they are opposing the government bid to acquire more land in the name of ancillary industries development.
A large number of farmers from Borrapothupalem, Hussainpalem, Buddhapalem, Pothepalli and Pothireddypalem, where the land acquisition was to be taken up, came onto the roads and blocked the vehicular traffic stating they will not give their lands.
With vehicular traffic on both sides of the road got stranded for more than an hour, police intervened and tried to remove the agitators, resulting in heated arguments between them. Tension levels escalated, when the police and protesters got engaged in push and pull situation. Some farmers suffered injuries. With situation steadily slipping out of hand, YSRC leader Perni Nani and others were taken into custody and taken to Bandar Taluk police station.
Protesting the arrest, YSRC cadres staged dharna at Bandar Taluk Police Station and demanded immediate release of their leaders. YSRC councillors and others participated in the protest. Assuring farmers, whose lands were proposed to be acquired by the government, that they will support them in their fight against the government over land, opposition parties threatened to intensify the agitation, if the government did not withdraw the notification.