Farmers Commission slams police for handcuffing farmers in Jogulamba Gadwal

The Telangana Farmers Commission condemned Jogulamba Gadwal police for handcuffing 12 farmers who protested against an ethanol plant. Despite officer suspensions, Chairman M Kodanda Reddy expressed dissatisfaction, terming the act unjust and a blow to peaceful democratic protest.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Commission on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the Jogulamba Gadwal police’s action of handcuffing farmers who were protesting against the establishment of an ethanol plant.

On Wednesday, 12 farmers from Rajoli were brought to the Alampur court in handcuffs after being granted bail in a case related to their protest against the proposed ethanol plant in Pedda Dhanwada of Jogulamba Gadwal district.

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Videos showing the farmers being paraded in handcuffs went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage across the State.

In response, Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Commission Chairman and former MLA M Kodanda Reddy spoke to Jogulamba Gadwal Superintendent of Police Srinivas Rao over the phone and expressed his anger over the incident.

The SP informed the Chairman that three police officers involved in the incident were suspended immediately. However, the Chairman conveyed his dissatisfaction over the decision to handcuff the farmers in the first place.