Bengaluru: Channayanapatna, a village near Devanahalli, was tense on Thursday as a farmer, Venkatesh, attempted suicide by consuming pesticide-laced rice bath during a protest against land acquisition by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB). Thankfully, he was rushed to hospital and is currently out of danger.
The protest centers on KIADB’s plan to acquire 1,777 acres of fertile farmland across 13 villages in Channarayapatna hobli, a plan first floated in 2022 and intensified by a final notification issued recently, reigniting local opposition.
Farmers had organized a peaceful delegation to Bengaluru to meet District Minister KH Muniyappa, but before they could proceed, police began detaining farmer leaders from across the taluk. This pre-emptive crackdown led to confrontations and a spontaneous sit-in protest in Channayanapatna, where farmers began preparing food.
Amidst growing frustration, pesticide was mixed into the food, reportedly to signal desperation. Police immediately intervened, destroying the food and utensils, but Venkatesh had already consumed a portion.
Justice V Gopala Gowda, former Supreme Court judge, condemned the government’s actions, stating: “Acquiring fertile land without a valid industrial policy is unjust. The government hasn’t even utilized land acquired in 2018—so why the rush now?”
He further questioned the police action, suggesting it violated the farmers’ fundamental rights and demanded accountability for the aggressive handling of peaceful protestors.
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