People's Democracy

Karnataka: Police Perpetrates Brutality on Farmers

THE All India Kisan Sabha has strongly condemned the barbaric attack on farmers protesting peacefully against the violation of Supreme Court directives on land acquisition by the BJP government in Karnataka. Through a statement issued from New Delhi in June 28, the AIKS has pointed out that the BJP government had recently granted an additional 776 acres extra to the NICE company but the Supreme Court intervened and directed that talks be held with the farmers and their organisations. The BJP government, however, refused to honour the Supreme Court’s directive to this effect; in a meeting of the high power committee chaired by the chief minister, the state government did not include the farmers’ organisations and farmers who have lost land due to the NICE Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project. Against this move, the farmers then staged a protest at the chief minister’s official residence to demand inclusion in any consultation on the issue. Fifty farmers’ representatives were arrested and undemocratically removed from the venue of the meeting.

The Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), the farmers who have lost land, the Janwadi Mahila Samithi and the Struggle Committee against Illegal Acquisition of Land organised a spontaneous protest against the move at Hemmigepura in Ramnagara district. The peaceful Rasta Roko was, however, brutally attacked by the police who showed unprecedented aggression, misbehaved with women activists, used iron rods and injured more than 30 activists. KPRS state vice president and the Struggle Committee’s general secretary Venkatachalaiah suffered serious injuries, fell unconscious, and had to be hospitalised and was in the intensive care unit by the time we go to the press. The police also entered the nearby houses, dragged the occupants and attacked them. In all, 83 protesters were arrested and lodged at four different police stations. Protests were held in different parts of the state against the police action on June 28.

The All India Kisan Sabha has demanded stringent action against the erring police officers and the inclusion of farmers and their organizations in any discussion on land acquisition as directed by the Supreme Court. (INN)