Demanding the release of arrested farmers in Anuppur district, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur. It also demanded a high-level probe and justice in the violent incidents of Jaithari village. A delegation of the CPI-led by State secretary Shailendra Kumar Shelly called on the Home Minister Babulal Gaur and handed over a memorandum to him seeking justice for the victim farmers of the Jaithari village in Anuppur district. “We demanded a high level probe of the incident and release of innocent farmers arrested and tortured by the police,” Shelly said.
Shelly further said that inquiry of the whole incident should be done and those responsible for the violent situation should be identified and action should be taken against them while the innocent farmers should be immediately released. The victimised farmers should also be provided protection, he added.
He said that the farmers are angry and are living under fear due to forcible acquisition of their land and giving them very less compensation. Hence, it is requested in the public interest to take on the case on sensitive grounds and immediately provide justice to the victimised farmers.
Notably, after row over land acquisition triggered mob violence in Jaithari village in Anuppur district on Monday, 35 people were booked and 15 arrested for arson and attacking policemen. Violence was triggered by a suicide attempt by a farmer protesting against land acquisition by the State government for setting up a power plant. On Saturday, a farmer, Anantram Rathore, 45, locked himself in his room and set himself ablaze. He suffered serious burns and was rushed to Jabalpur for treatment.