Telangana Villagers File Complaints with SC/ST, Human Rights Commission Against Police Over Forced Land Acquisition

New Delhi: Victims of alleged forced land acquisition in Lagacharla village, Telangana, filed complaints with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), SC/ST Commission, and Women's Commission on Monday. They accused the Telangana police of committing atrocities during their displacement for a proposed 'Pharma Village'.

The victims, including tribal women, farmers, and members of marginalized communities, were accompanied by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders while submitting their complaints. They alleged that police conducted midnight raids, made arbitrary arrests, and subjected them to harassment, including physical and sexual assault.

The villagers claim the police operations involved cutting off electricity, forcefully entering homes, detaining men indiscriminately, and harassing women, including pregnant women. Some women alleged sexual misconduct by the police. Many male villagers fled in fear, while others remain unaccounted for.

These allegations stem from the November 11 incident where police arrested several individuals for their alleged involvement in an attack on the Vikarabad District Collector and other officials during a public hearing on the proposed 'Pharma Village' project in Lagacharla. Among those arrested is former BRS MLA Patnam Narender Reddy.

The ruling Congress party has blamed the BRS for the attack, while the BRS has attributed it to a spontaneous "revolt by people" in Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's constituency.

BRS working President K.T. Rama Rao, who addressed a press conference with the victims, accused the Congress-led administration of oppressing marginalized tribal communities and criticized the silence of national leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the issue.

"Rahul Gandhi often talks about protecting the welfare of farmers, tribals, and women. Yet, his own party's Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, presides over atrocities in Telangana," KTR stated. He further questioned the Congress party's stance on crony capitalism, alleging that the party was supporting the acquisition of tribal lands for private projects.

"Rahul Gandhi criticises Crony Capitalism but is silent on Revanth Reddy's pharma land-grabbing. This is Congress' double standard," he added.

The victims have threatened to camp in Delhi until their demands for justice are met. BRS MLC Satyavati Rathod expressed solidarity with the victims and pledged the party's unwavering support until justice is served. "The Congress government has crossed all limits of tyranny. The Chief Minister's brother threatens farmers with death if they refuse to surrender their lands. Women and children are not spared from this brutality," she stated.

(Source- IANS)