Clash during land survey for Bidadi Township in Bengaluru. Two FIRs have been registered against 11 people and ‘farmers’ for attacking the survey team and obstructing the work. Four people were slightly injured in the incident.
Clash in Bidadi township survey, two FIRs registered
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [भारत]July 14 (ANI): Two FIRs have been registered at Bidadi police station in Ramnagar district following a clash that broke out during land survey for the proposed Bidadi township project. In one case, 11 people have been named, while in the other, a case has been registered against “farmers” for obstructing the work of officials and attacking the survey team.
According to the police, the incident took place on July 13 between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm at Mandalahalli village in Bidadi Hobli, where officials were conducting land survey as part of the acquisition process for the proposed township project.
Case against 11 people and ‘farmers’
The first FIR was lodged by driver Mohammad Sameer (34), resident of Moti Nagar, Ramnagar. They have named 11 people as accused, including residents of Hosur, Mandalahalli, Bannigiri, Kanchugarnahalli and Byaramangala villages in Bengaluru South district. The accused have been booked under sections 189(2), 126(2), 352, 351(2), 109(1), 115(2), 118(1), 132, 133, 74 and 190 of the Indian Code of Justice (BNS), 2023.
The second FIR has been lodged by Murali (40), a police officer attached to Ramnagar Rural Police Station. In this case, “farmers” from Bengaluru South have been accused under the same provisions of the BNS. According to the complaint filed by Murali, officials of the revenue, forest and horticulture departments were conducting a land survey along with police personnel when a group of farmers allegedly gathered at the spot, disrupted the survey and attacked the officials and police personnel.
Attacked with stones and sticks, broke car windows
It has been alleged in the FIR that stones and sticks were used during the incident. It further said that four people, including police officer Murali, Mahesh, Rohini and Keerthana, all residents of Ramnagar Town, suffered “minor” injuries. The complaint also alleges that the windows of a vehicle being used by the survey team were damaged during the incident.
Both FIRs mention provisions under the Indian Justice Code, 2023 related to unlawful assembly, rioting, assault or use of criminal force to prevent public servant from discharging duty, mischief causing damage to property and criminal intimidation. Bidadi police have registered both the cases and started investigation into the incident.
Why is there protest?
The clash occurred after hundreds of farmers, mainly women carrying brooms, intensified their protest by chasing away government survey teams. Farmers damaged vehicles and clashed with police, forcing the survey to be halted. Farmers are strongly opposing the Karnataka government’s proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) and a political row has erupted over land acquisition. Envisioned as India’s first “AI-powered city” in Bidadi, about 40 km from Bengaluru, the project covers about 9,600 acres of land and requires the acquisition of vast fertile agricultural land. (ANI)
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