Kothagudem: Podu farmer falls at MLA’s feet after cotton crop uprooted by forest officials

In Kothagudem, a podu farmer and his family staged a dramatic protest after forest officials uprooted their cotton crop, allegedly grown on patta land. The family fell at the feet of Congress MLA Payam Venkateswarlu, seeking justice. CPI (ML) New Democracy leaders condemned the act and demanded accountability.

Kothagudem: A podu farmer and his family were forced to fall at the feet of a Congress MLA seeking justice after forest officials uprooted their cotton crop.

The farmer, Uke Nageswara Rao of Rayapadu in Allapalli mandal, had cultivated cotton on one acre of land under Morlipadu beat in the Tekulapalli forest range. The forest officials uprooted the crop, which was bearing fruit, on Wednesday night.

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In protest, Nageswara Rao and his family staged a demonstration on the main road in the mandal on Friday. When Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateswarlu visited Allapalli, the family went to him and fell at his feet, lamenting their loss.

The incident moved those present, and the MLA assured them that justice would be served. CPI (ML) New Democracy leaders P Ranganna, B Satyam and others speaking to the media demanded action against the forest officials for destroying the crop.

They added that Nageswara Rao has been cultivating the land for over two decades and possesses a land patta for it. The destruction of the crop at its harvesting stage, they said, was particularly regrettable.