Land owners allege harassment by police, threaten to go to court

Police book cases against farmers for refusing to part with their fertile lands

Guntur, Feb 10, 2015: Land owners who are unwilling to part with their fertile lands in the capital region of Andhra Pradesh have alleged that police are harassing them and filing false cases against them for speaking openly against land pooling. Two farmers from the capital region have so far come out openly against the Government and threatened to drag the police, officials and government to court for harassing them. Boyapati Sudharani of Krishnayapalem and Srinath Choudary of Venkatayapalem in Tullur Mandal have said they were harassed by police for refusing to part with their lands and speaking openly against forcible land pooling. While Choudary said he was booked under sections 153 (A), 182, 184 and 504 for speaking against land pooling, Sudharani said police have questioned her several times for speaking out openly against land pooling. Sudharani said she has just 75 cents of land which is the only source for the survival of her family. She said her only daughter is preparing for civil services examinations. "It is very difficult for me to live with the meager compensation being provided by the Government," she said. The police harassment was so severe that she was forced to stay at a relative's house to avoid police visits to her house. Some land owners of Venkatayapalem and Krishnayapalem have disclosed that they were in the grip of fear due to police harassment. Some have even said they are being branded as YSRCP supporters after speaking against land pooling. "This is very unfortunate we are branded as YSRCP supporters even though we are traditional supporters of TDP," said some of them adding they will not vote for TDP next time.