Watch: Narayanpet farmer slapped by cop at PACS over urea demand
A farmer in Narayanpet was slapped by a police officer during a protest over urea shortage at PACS. The incident sparked more protests, and the video went viral. Farmers demanded better supplies and action against the officer involved
Narayanpet: In a shocking incident, a farmer who asked for adequate urea from the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) at Tileru in the district was slapped by a sub-inspector.
Farmers, including women, were standing in a queue at the PACS since morning. As there was heavy rush and limited stock, farmers demanded that the officials arrange sufficient urea bags. Despite merely raising their voices for more urea, police personnel deployed at the PACS tried to silence them.
In the melee, an SI slapped farmer Satyanarayana Reddy, a resident of Rakonda village. This triggered more protests, with farmers raising slogans against the police and the Congress government. They wanted stern action to be initiated against the officer.
With a video of the SI slapping the farmer going viral on social media, the police tried to cover up the situation, claiming the incident was “unintentional” and “accidental”.
Farmers said they had reached the PACS from far off places and been standing in the queue at the PACS since 6 am. In another incident at Kothapally mandal of Kodangal, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s constituency, farmers argued with the Agriculture Officer for failing to provide sufficient urea. Farmers had arrived at the Rythu Seva Kendram early in the morning and wanted the officials to provide sufficient urea. However, the officials cited helplessness due to insufficient supply of stocks.
Farmers also staged a protest at the Tahsildar’s office in Tungaturthy mandal demanding urea. They complained that they were forced to wait for their turn in serpentine queues to obtain urea bags. At the PACS in Palakveedu mandal in Suryapet too, long queues were witnessed.
