Bahadurguda tense as farmers clash with police over land acquisition for bullet train near Shamshabad

Farmers in Bahadurguda village near Shamshabad clashed with police and revenue officials over the Government’s move to acquire 650 acres for the proposed bullet train project. The protest turned violent as villagers hurled stones, chairs and chilli powder, leaving several police personnel injured.

Hyderabad: The Government’s move to take over 650 acres of land in Bahadurguda village near Shamshabad was met with stiff resistance from the villagers who hurled stones, plastic chairs and chilli powder at the police and revenue authorities on Saturday evening. 

At least three or four police officers were injured in the fierce resistance by the villagers. The land is sought to be acquired for facilitating the proposed bullet train project.

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The incident drew comparisons with the Lagacherla farmers’ protest in Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Kodangal constituency against the acquisition of land for proposed pharma villages in October 2024. 

For the past week, farmers and residents of Bahadurguda have been opposing the government’s plan to take over 650 acres under Survey Nos. 28 and 68. They claimed they had been cultivating the land for decades and had repeatedly appealed to the government to grant them pattas.

The farmers had been staging a peaceful protest under a tent in the village. Residents alleged that power supply to the village was disconnected on Friday night and outsiders were prevented from entering. They also claimed school buses were stopped, forcing students to skip school and remain at home.

The situation turned tense when officials from HYDRAA and the Revenue Department reached the village to erect fencing around the identified land. Anticipating trouble, the police deployed heavy security. 

The protesting farmers raised slogans demanding justice and insisted they would not give up their land unless the government announced fair compensation.

Despite their objections, police detained several farmers, including women, and shifted them to the Nandigama police station. Heated arguments broke out during the operation, and a farmer identified as Narasimha reportedly lost consciousness in the commotion.

Meanwhile, the BRS extended support to the protesting farmers and opposed the government’s land acquisition. Senior BRS leader P. Karthik Reddy was stopped by police while on his way to the village and was taken into custody near his residence. BRS leaders raised slogans against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

The protest turned violent around 4.30 pm after farmers noticed revenue officials fencing the land. They allegedly threw chilli powder at police personnel, pelted stones and hurled plastic chairs at them. DCP Yogesh Goutham and two Sub-Inspectors reportedly sustained minor injuries. 

Police told the protesters that only government land was being fenced and that no agricultural fields were being damaged. Police later detained more farmers, including women, and shifted them to the Nandigama and Maheswaram police stations, according to reports.