Watch: Protests erupt against ‘Pharma Village’ in CM Revanth’s constituency; Collector, officials attacked

Vikarabad Collector Prateek Jain and Kodangal Area Development Authority Special Officer Venkat Reddy were attacked by villagers in protest against the government’s plans to acquire land for pharma village.

Vikarabad: In a shocking response to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s pet project of a Pharma Village from his own constituency, farmers, women and villagers turned violent on Monday while protesting against acquisition of their land for the project, and took out their fury on Vikarabad Collector Prateek Jain and Kodangal Area Development Authority Special Officer Venkat Reddy, who were attacked and chased out of the Lagicherla village in Dudyala mandal.

The Vikarabad district administration had organized a public hearing programme at Lagicherla village on land acquisition for the Pharma Village. Farmers and residents from Hakimpet, Polepally, Lagicherla, Dudyala and other neighbouring villages were invited to attend the programme. However, the farmers and villagers did not turn up for the programme. In a bid to speak and convince the farmers, Prateek Jain along with other officials including Venkat Reddy visited the village.

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As soon as the officials entered the village, the villagers, including women and farmers raised slogans against them, shouting “Go back” and “Congress down down” slogans. Despite this, the Collector and officials tried to speak to the agitated villagers.

As the officials continued to persist with them, the villagers, especially women, pushed and attacked them. Sensing trouble, the Collector and officials boarded their vehicles but the villagers chased them and pelted stones at them. Venkat Reddy was thrashed severely by the women and three vehicles, including that of the Collector, were damaged in the melee.

The police deployed heavy force and rescued the officials from the village. They were escorted in the vehicles to safe places while the police resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control. The police department deployed more force from Mahabubnagar and Narayanpet districts in Dudyala to avoid any untoward incidents.This is not the first time that the villagers have vehemently opposed the establishment of the Pharma Village.

On October 25, residents and farmers of Rotibanda thanda in Kodangal constituency opposed the project. Congress mandal president A Shekhar, who tried to argue with the villagers over their reluctance to part their lands for the project, was even locked up in the gram panchayat office. Police had a tough time in rescuing the Congress leader from facing the villagers’ ire.

On Monday after the attack on the Collector and other officials, Vikarabad Collectorate officials staged a protest in front of their office and wanted the government to initiate stern action against the offenders. Extending support, officials in different departments, including revenue and others also staged protests at respective offices and boycotted their duties.

The employees said the protests would continue on Tuesday and that they would sport black badges. Meanwhile, condemning the attack on Vikarabad Collector, Telangana Gazetted Officers Association extended solidarity to the employees at Vikarabad and wanted the government to take action against those responsible for the attack. .