While the process of extending the Rehabilitation and Resettlement is on in half of the villages that would be submerged by the Mallannasagar project, huge police force presence is present in almost all villages. On Saturday police personnel were found in large numbers at Etigaddakishtapur, Lakshmapur, Rampur and Brahmana Banjerpally.
Police personnel are sitting at entry point of every village and observing the movement of new comers and villagers. When some members of the Bhoo Nirvasitula Porata Committee led by its State convenor B. Venkat visited Etigaddakishtapur, a police officials rushed to the spot where they were interacting with villagers. He enquired why they were visiting the village and what was the purpose? After collecting the data they he left the spot.
Residents of all submergence villages are feeling the heat of police presence and they were not feeling free to interact with outsiders. “I cannot leave the village now as police are shadowing my movements and it will create some problem. I will send someone else to assist you,” said a villager when asked to introduce some residents of Rampur village where the officials distributed R&R package.
“Why is the government terrorising the people with heavy police force? Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had already told that 90 % of land acquisition was completed and now they were getting R&R package. So now why would people create problems?” asked Mr. Venkat.
He doubted the motive of the government in mobilising such huge presence and termed it was stifling the voice of people.