An elderly couple, who were protesting against the seizure of their land on the road leading to the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, were forcibly lifted into the bucket of an excavator and moved aside, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
The incident took place on Friday at Bairdipalem village in Bhogapuram mandal, where some farmers were protesting against the alleged forced seizure of their land without payment of compensation.
A video has gone viral on social media showing the excavator lifting the couple – identified as Biridi Appala Narasaya and Gauthama, both in their 60s – into the bucket a few meters from the field where they were protesting and dropping them aside.
According to Shiva, a local resident, revenue officials and contractors were carrying out road works when several affected farmers objected and demanded that the government first clarify the pending compensation before proceeding with the construction.
He added: “The farmers were using the excuse that although they gave up their lands in favor of the airport road, they did not receive compensation and the matter is now in court. They were demanding that work be stopped until the court issued its ruling and the compensation was paid in full.”
During the protest, the elderly couple reportedly sat inside the excavator bucket to prevent work.
“The authorities became angry and asked the excavator operator to move them aside,” Shiva said. “The operator forcibly lifted the couple into the bucket and moved them aside, leaving them frightened and humiliated.”
The incident angered local residents and farmers, who accused the authorities and contractors of using intimidation tactics against vulnerable villagers. They also accused the contractor of endangering the couple’s lives by demanding the correct compensation.
Later in the evening, the couple met Vizianagaram Revenue Divisional Officer S Sudha Sagar and explained their grievances.
“We will see that the case pending in court is settled soon and the compensation due to the farmers will be paid as soon as possible,” Sagar said.
Meanwhile, Vizianagaram District Collector S Ramasundar Reddy, in a statement on Saturday, said that action has been taken against the officials concerned who were involved in the incident.
He said the excavator operator was reprimanded and taken into police custody.
“RDO Sudha Sagar later held discussions and advisory sessions with the farmers and beneficiaries. Steps will be taken as soon as possible to address their grievances,” he said, adding that the farmers later facilitated resumption of work.
Reddy explained that matters relating to land acquisition compensation are currently under legal process and that the government is taking steps to ensure justice for the affected people.
The conductor indicated that instructions have been issued to the relevant employees to ensure that they do not carry out any actions that may endanger public safety and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
