Farmers attempt suicide

Protest against handing over of land to co-op housing society

Two farmers attempted to commit suicide on Wednesday at Jakkur, to protest against the decision to hand over the land to Metropolitan Co-operative Housing Society (MCHS) to construct houses for IAS and IPS officers.

The land has been acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority to develop Arkavathi Layout.

One tried to set himself ablaze, while another tried to consume poison when hundreds of farmers were staging the protest. The situation turned tense following the incident. The police rushed to the spot and restored normalcy.

The issue involving construction of the Arkavathi Layout is pending in the Supreme Court. Before the court could deliver verdict, the government has taken a decision to hand over the land. The government auctioned one acre land for Rs 4.75 crore. While acquiring one acre land from the farmers, the government fixed only Rs 12 lakh which is highly indiscriminatory, alleged the protesters.

A former union minister owns around 400 acres of land in Hegdenagar and Agrahara areas. Another minister owns around 70 acre land in Huvinayakanahalli and Baglur. MLAs and ministers own hundreds of acres of land in different parts of the City.

Instead of acquiring such lands, the government has decided to acquire the land belonging to farmers, they charged. Farmers exchanged heated words with the police when they were prevented from stalling the ground breaking ceremony. The MCHS has given contract to develop 22 acre land, given to IAS and IPS officers’ Association, barring six acre controversial land. Accordingly, ground breaking ceremony was conducted and survey work began, said the contractor Ashok Kumar.

Government clarifies

In response to the farmers protest, the government has clarified that the High Court has already vacated the stay filed on the 24 acre land for the Metropolitan Housing Corporation Society, next to the Arkavathi Layout built by the BDA. The Society is in fact, an association started by IAS and KAS officials in the State.

Trouble erupted when the farmers objected to the Society putting tents for construction in adjoining areas of the 24 acre land. However, officials state that the Society with the help of police officials had gone to claim the land that was rightfully theirs. “The construction and possession of land has been taken only in those areas where the high court has vacated the stay,” said Minister in-charge, Katta Subramanya Naidu.

According to officials, the land was cleared of all litigation and now lies with the society in question. When asked if there will be any negotiations by the government with the farmers, Katta categorically refused it. “We will not intervene when the HC has already given its verdict and there will be no negotiations with the farmers,” he said.