Bengaluru, Sep 26 (PTI) Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday met farmers including women, who are protesting against the land acquisition for the proposed Bidadi township project and sought stringent action against police personnel allegedly involved in their detention and “atrocities”.
He alleged the protesting farmers and women had been subjected to “merciless” police action and arrested before being taken to the Channapatna Police Bhavan, where they continued their protest.
Tension had prevailed on Friday, as police moved to disperse the protesting farmers, who had allegedly blocked the Bidadi- Harohalli road in Bengaluru South district, as a part of their protest.
Policemen forcibly cleared the road and detained several protesters, including women who had been participating in the hunger strike.
Some women had even tried to resist the action by lying on the road, in an attempt to resist the action while some women farmers alleged that they were manhandled by the police while they were being removed from the road.
“I visited the spot and discussed with farmers,” Kumaraswamy said in a statement posted on ‘X’.
He said he had asked the police to suspend and take stringent action against officers responsible for allegedly harassing the women.
He also sought action against those whom he described as “evil elements” who allegedly celebrated the police action at Byramangala.
The Union minister said he had discussed the matter with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Range, and the district Superintendent of Police.
Later, he said, he persuaded the protesting farmers and women farmers to withdraw their hunger agitation.
“Thanking all those who ended the hunger agitation by consuming fruit, I have warned the police that if such incidents recur, the situation will not remain under control,” Kumaraswamy said.
However, protests will continue in Byramangala, said those associated with farmers agitation.
Amid protests by farmers and locals, the government last month had constituted a high-level committee headed by retired High Court Judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar to review the varying opinions and feedback regarding the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project.
Earlier, despite opposition from farmers and locals, the government has issued two sets of final notifications for the acquisition of over 5,400 acres of land spread across seven villages for the GBIT project, which is projected as India’s “first AI-powered integrated township”.
According to sources, the Bidadi project requires acquiring 9,600 acres spread across nine revenue villages and 16 non-revenue villages.
The state government had issued a preliminary notification in March last year to acquire a total of 7,481 acres across nine villages in the region, for the proposed project, and more notifications may be expected in the coming days. PTI KSU ROH
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