Land Evacuees Protest at RDO Office in Choutuppal
A group of land evacuees affected by the Regional Ring Road project staged a protest at the RDO office in Choutuppal, Yadadri Bhongiri district, on Monday. The protestors demanded justice for the loss of their lands and voiced their concerns loudly.
The evacuees stopped employees from entering the office and held a sit-in inside the building, raising slogans to highlight their plight. Police forces were deployed in large numbers to manage the situation and eventually escorted the protesters out of the premises.
After being removed from the office, the protesters continued their demonstration outside the main gate. They organised a dharna, reiterating their demands for fair compensation. Leaders such as Single Window Chairman Chintala Damodar Reddy, BJP Assembly Convenor Dudala Bhiksham Goud, and CPM district committee member B Krishna Reddy spoke on behalf of the evacuees.
The protestors demanded either equivalent land in exchange for the land taken or compensation based on current open market rates. They urged authorities to involve farmers, plot owners, and house owners in discussions before making any decisions, ensuring everyone’s agreement. The leaders warned that unilateral actions by officials could lead to unrest similar to incidents in Lagcherla.
The evacuees also issued a stern warning, stating they would obstruct ministers, MLAs, and officials if their demands were ignored. They announced plans to intensify their agitation by besieging the Collectorate office under the leadership of all political parties. The protestors criticised the government and public representatives for neglecting their struggles over the past four months, despite ongoing protests involving families and children.
Referring to past incidents in Lagcherla and Nirmal, where farmer protests compelled the government to change its stance, the evacuees questioned if they would have to resort to similar rebellion to achieve justice. They vowed to continue their fight until fair decisions were made, urging authorities to act equitably and not impose decisions unilaterally.
Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum at the RDO office. To ensure the situation remained under control, ACP Patolla Madhusudhan Reddy supervised security arrangements, while CI Manmatha Kumar led a large police deployment.
