Authorities’ brutality on poor farmers’ lands in the name of Future City.. Jaggery crop destroyed with JCBs. Tense situation in Yacharam mandal, Medipalli – Kurmaddi villages. Local farmers are expressing deep concern that the government is putting pressure on farmers in the name of Future City project in Medipalli and Kurmaddi villages of Yacharam mandal of Rangareddy district. The fact that the revenue officials, police and TGIIC officials plowed the jowar crop cultivated at a cost of lakhs of rupees with the help of JCBs has led to a serious controversy. According to the details given by the farmers, a case is going on in the court regarding their lands and they allege that the officials forcibly entered their fields and destroyed the crop despite the court stay. The farmers were in tears saying that huge damage was caused due to the plowing of the fields with JCBs when the crop was ready for harvesting. During this incident, a large number of farmers, women and youth reached the fields and tried to stop the officials. This led to a heated argument between the police and the farmers. After a tense situation prevailed for some time, the tension increased further as the police pushed the farmers back. “Our lands are our livelihood. The crops feed our families. The government is beating up poor farmers in the name of development. It is unfair to act without even paying attention to court orders,” the affected farmers said. According to the local people, attempts are being made to forcibly acquire agricultural lands for the Future City project and the authorities are accused of acting without the farmers’ permission. Several public representatives and leaders of farmers’ associations have expressed anger over this incident. The fact that some local activists of the Congress party expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach to this matter has become a topic of discussion in political circles. “It is sad that the government, which should be working for the people, is destroying the crops of poor farmers. The government must answer for the tears of the farmers,” they said. Farmers expressed their anger over the destruction of the sorghum crop by JCBs in Medipalli village and demanded full compensation for the damage caused to them, respect for the court orders, and an immediate stop to the forced land acquisition. The incident has turned tense in Yacharam mandal. The issue of acquisition of agricultural lands in the name of the Future City project has once again become a topic of discussion across the state. Local people and farmer associations are demanding that the government protect the lands that are the basis of farmers’ livelihood and resolve their problems immediately.
