SANGAREDDY: Tension prevailed in Etigadda Kistapur on Saturday, where land oustees of the Mallanna Sagar project destroyed paddy seedlings of former MPTC member and TRS leader Pratap Reddy, who registered his land in the name of government, despite a resolution adopted by the villagers against the move.
Last week, the police had registered cases against villagers for reportedly attacking the house and car of Pratap Reddy. On Saturday, the villagers obstructed agricultural activities on his land.
Over 200 policemen rushed to the village and evicted the protesters from the farm. In the process, a woman allegedly fell unconscious, which agitated the villagers even more.
They told the police that they were only protesting against the meagre compensation being offered by the state government for the Mallana Sagar project.
The locals also claimed that Pratap Reddy was an agent of the government and that he was threatening them that their lands would be forcefully taken away if they failed to hand it over to the government.
Meanwhile, Mallanna Sagar Porata Samithi held a protest in Thoguta mandal headquarters and burnt an effigy of the government. The oustees alleged that the state government doesn’t have any respect for Constitutional rights given to the citizens and is trying to acquire their lands illegally, instead of compensating them as per Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
The protestors said that normally, if the government wants to acquire land, officials would hold discussions and get the lands registered in the registration office.
“However, in this case, registrations are being held stealthily in the RDO’s office, which speaks volumes of the government’s intentions,” they alleged.