Farmers Rasta-Roko Turns Violent In Medak

Injured CI

Tension prevailed in Narsingi village of Chegunta mandal when the police resorted to lathi-charge on the farmers, who were holding a rasta-roko on national highway No 44 protesting against erratic power supply to the agriculture. The farmers were protesting they don’t even an hour of power supply for last 1 week.

Due to the road blockade, vehicular traffic came to stand still on the Hyderabad, Nizamabad roads with the stir of the farmers. When the police tried clearing up the blockade, the rasta-roko turned violent. Angry with disproportionate force used by CI Gandadhar of Ramayampet, the farmers pelted him with stones. Police vehicles and RTC buses too were stoned by the farmers. Several farmers received injuries in the lathi- charge.

This kharif season, which is the main crop season for farmers, Medak has recorded the maximum rainfall deficit in the state at 50 per cent. Most farmers are dependent on groundwater which needs to be pumped up using borewells. So power is literally their livelihood.

CM KCR reviewed the situation of farmers and ordered the Medak Collector to make sure 6 hours of power is supplied to the farmers even if it means cutting power to industries. Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy described the lathi-charge as unfortunate.