Lagacherla women decry land acquisition, police brutality

They said their situation had only worsened after several male family members were arrested on charges of allegedly attacking Vikarabad District Collector and other officials recently.

Delhi: Tribal women from Lagacherla village raised grave allegations against the Congress-led government in Telangana for attempting to forcibly acquire their ancestral lands for a private pharma company. They said their situation had only worsened after several male family members were arrested on charges of allegedly attacking Vikarabad District Collector and other officials recently.

Jyothi, nine months pregnant, questioned the need for setting up the pharma project in their village. “Why target our lands? The government did not give those lands, but is threatening to take everything, leaving us with no future. The proposed pharma plant will also bring pollution, harming nearby villages,” she said.

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She said Chief Minister’s brother A Tirupati Reddy visited their village with two vehicles of police personnel, but none were present when the District Collector and other officials came in plain clothes. “How would we tribals know that he is the District Collector?” she said, insisting that there was no attack on the Collector which he himself confirmed and yet their family members were arrested.

Devibai, another villager, described the toll of the nine-month-long struggle.

“My husband and younger son are in jail, and I don’t know where my elder son is. We have lost our peace,” she said.

Kishtibai said that they voted for Revanth Reddy, hoping he would improve their lives. “Instead, he is forcing us onto the streets. We begged with his brother, Tirupati Reddy, and other officials, but no one listens,” she added.

Susheela recounted a midnight police raid stating that they cut power supply and dragged away her son.

The women shared their ordeal with the chairpersons and members of National Commission for Human Rights, Women, SCs and STs in Delhi on Monday, and sought justice. They refused to give away their lands which was their lone source of livelihood.

“We are ready to die, but we would not surrender our lands,” they declared.