Shutdown sees spontaneous participation of people
PNS|KAMAREDDY
Shutdown in Kamareddy town on Friday to register a protest against the master plan saw spontaneous participation of various sections of society. A total shutdown was observed a day after the farmers hailing from eight villages and also those under the limits of the Kamareddy Municipality staged a demonstration in front of the District Collectorate.
The death of a farmer by suicide sparked anger among the farmers. The farmer, identified as Ramulu, committed suicide by hanging for fear that his two-acre land would be acquired for an industrial zone under the garb of the master plan. Tension rose when the police prevented the farmers, who took out a procession in the town, from meeting the Collector to submit a memorandum on Thursday. Two farmers were reportedly injured during jostling and shoving among the protesters and the police personnel.
The farmers on Friday gave a call for a total shutdown of Kamareddy town in protest not only against the master plan but also against the alleged police excess against the protesters at the Collectorate. Farmers Joint Action Committee gave a call for shutdown in the town Friday. Shops and other commercial establishments in the Kamareddy district remained closed. Congress and the BJP extended their support to farmers in enforcing the shutdown. Tension prevailed as the police bundled the protesters into vans and shifted them to various police stations. The protesters raised slogans like ‘Jai Jawan, Ji Kisan.’ The police arrested not only the farmers but also the activists of Congress and the BJP and shifted them to various police stations.
Former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, former MLA Yenugu Ravinder Reddy and BJP leader Katipalli Venkata Ramana Reddy, besides councillors, were among those arrested. Ravinder Reddy even scaled the compound wall of the Municipal office to meet the Commissioner.
BJP leader Gujjula Preminder Reddy also took part in the protests.
Later, Congress senior leaders M Kodanda Reddy and Shabbir Ali met the District Collector Jitesh V Patil and submitted a memorandum.
