Semi-naked protest seeking title deeds

Semi-naked farmers took out a protest rally in the town on Monday.

The farmers, dressed only in shorts and neem leaves, went in a procession from the Murugharajendra Mutt to the Hosamani Siddappa Circle.

One of the farmers, Chandrappa Guttur from Airani in Ranebennur taluk in the district, tried to commit suicide by consuming poison at Hosamani Siddappa Circle. Kalappa Lamani, a farmer from Hanumapura in the taluk, went completely naked as a mark of protest. Shivappa Halageri, a farmer from Aladageri in Hirekerur, also tried to consume poison, but he was stopped from doing so by the police who snatched the bottle of poison from him. 

They were demanding that they be provided title deeds for those cultivating crops on forest and Bagair Hukum lands. They said district officials were delaying distribution of the documents even though Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa had ordered for the same.

The protesters said they had held marathon protests in Hirekerur and Ranebennur. Yet, the officials concerned were unmoved. They said 25,000 families were involved in agriculture on 60,000 acres of forest land, grazing land and grasslands in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Venkatesh M V told DH that 11 families were provided the title deeds under relevant laws. The title deeds of a total of 25 families were ready, the DC said. “Survey was under way as regards the applications submitted by other farmers. GPS-based survey would begin in a number of villages on Tuesday.”