In Telangana’s Vikarabad district, tensions flared as local farmers and residents protested against the acquisition of agricultural land for a proposed “Pharma Village.” On Friday, police intervened to prevent an attack on a local leader by agitated protesters.
The unrest began during a meeting between revenue officials and villagers opposing the land acquisition. When the leader’s behavior drew anger from the crowd, he was taken to safety by police. A brief scuffle broke out, prompting the authorities to disperse the protestors to prevent escalation.
Farmers, particularly from villages like Hakimpet, Polepalli, and Lakacharla, have been protesting for nearly a month, arguing that the project threatens their livelihoods and risks environmental damage. The government plans to acquire 1,274 acres of government and private lands for the pharmaceutical cluster, leading to widespread dissatisfaction. Protestors have vowed to continue their agitation until the government rolls back the project, alleging undue pressure from political figures, including the Chief Minister’s brother, Tirupathi Reddy.
The controversy stems from the new Congress government’s decision to shift focus from the Hyderabad Pharma City project in Rangareddy district to creating multiple Pharma Villages. Opposition parties, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have lent their support to the protests, with BRS leaders actively participating in recent marches.
