NHRC takes cognizance of complaint by Lagacherla farmers, issues notices to Telangana CS, DGP

Looking into the gravity of the allegations, the Commission has also decided to immediately send a joint team of its Law and Investigation officers for on-the-spot enquiry in the matter and submit a report within one week.

Hyderabad: In a major victory of sorts for the BRS, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the complaint lodged by residents of Lagacherla village of Vikarabad district alleging police harassment, physical abuse, and false criminal charges. The farmers had lodged the complaint with the Commission in Delhi with the help of the BRS last Monday.

According to a press release issued by the NHRC, the alleged actions occurred after the villagers protested the State’s land acquisition for a proposed Pharma Village without following proper procedures. Most of the victims of the alleged atrocities claim to be from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities. The complaint has been submitted by at least 12 victims who visited the Commission praying for its intervention to save them from starvation in the matter, it said.

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The press release said that as per the complaint, on November 11, the District Collector accompanied by other officials arrived at the Lagacherla village to announce the forcible land acquisition for the proposed Pharma project. The same evening, hundreds of police personnel allegedly accompanied by some local goons raided the village and assaulted the protesting villagers. They did not even spare the pregnant women.

“The internet services and the electricity supply were also allegedly shut down to ensure no communication could be made with anyone for help. The police, allegedly, registered FIRs on false complaints against the villagers including women forcing some of the victims to leave their houses in fear and to take shelter in forests and farmlands without food, medical aid, basic amenities etc.,” it said.

“The Commission has observed that the contents of the complaint, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights, which is indeed a matter of concern. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Telangana calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks.

The report is expected to include the status of the FIRs, persons in judicial custody and the villagers who out of fear, are allegedly hiding in the forest areas without basic amenities. The Commission would also like to know whether any medical examination of the victim women was done and medical care provided to the injured villagers,” the release said.

Looking into the gravity of the allegations, the Commission has also decided to immediately send a joint team of its Law and Investigation officers for on-the-spot enquiry in the matter and submit a report within one week.

The Commission also noted that the land which was now being forcefully acquired without any prior notice, was fertile agricultural land owned and acquired for generations, by persons belonging to SC/ ST and OBC categories and that the farmers have been protesting against it for more than four to five months.