In a significant development in Solapur district, several farmers were taken into custody by the police on Friday after they attempted to block a land survey in Manegaon village. The survey, conducted by officials from the revenue and land records departments under heavy police cover, prompted members of the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti from Malshiras, Madha, and Karakamb to gather at the site and stage a protest.
Protest Turns Heated
As the situation escalated, a heated confrontation ensued between the protesters and the police. Law enforcement officials responded by detaining a number of protesters. This action quickly ignited widespread outrage among farmers across all 13 districts through which the proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway is slated to pass.
Farmers' Leader Condemns Police Action
Farmers' leader and former Member of Parliament Raju Shetti strongly condemned the incident. He stated, “The police kept the farmers in detention for the whole day, while the officials tried to conduct the survey. The lands in question are private properties of these farmers. Entering their lands without obtaining their consent is unethical, illegal and an act of authoritarianism. We condemn this incident.”
The proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway has been a contentious issue, with farmers expressing concerns over the acquisition of their private lands. The detention of protesters has further intensified the opposition to the project.
