Hakimpet Grama Sabha: Farmers protest pending compensation, police action

Tension flared at the Grama Sabha in Hakimpet, Vikarabad, on Saturday as farmers accused police of harassment and raised grievances over unpaid compensation for acquired land. The meeting, held in Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Kodangal constituency, saw commotion after farmers and contractors alleged irregularities.

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at the Grama Sabha in Hakimpet, Vikarabad, on Saturday after farmers complained of police oppression and alleged that their voices were being suppressed. 

The Grama Sabha was convened in Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Kodangal constituency to discuss alleged irregularities, conduct a full-scale inquiry and ensure justice for those who had not received compensation after giving up their land for various projects.

---

However, the meeting was held under heavy police deployment. A farmer questioned why the compensation due to him was still pending and had not been paid. His younger brother also joined the argument and alleged that they were being bullied instead of being paid compensation. Police personnel subsequently dragged both of them out of the venue, reports said.

People also expressed anger over the poor compensation offered to a family living in a hut. They alleged that officials were merely delaying the matter with vague assurances. A commotion broke out when the contractor who constructed the Gram Panchayat building questioned why his bill had not been cleared even six months after the completion of the work.

Meanwhile, former MLA Patnam Narender Reddy approached the District Collector with evidence and alleged a massive scam in the Multipurpose Industrial Park project in the Chief Minister’s constituency. He alleged that Congress leaders had misappropriated government land and siphoned off large amounts of compensation money.

“We will approach the courts if the irregularities are not thoroughly investigated,” Narender Reddy said, according to reports.

The former MLA also alleged that farmers who had lost their land were given only partial compensation. He further claimed that a few landless families were offered crores of rupees in the name of compensation.