Andhra Farmers Protest Land Takeover, Face Police Crackdown
A fresh round of unrest has gripped Kandukur village in Andhra Pradesh, where farmers are protesting the allocation of over 8,000 acres of farmland to a private solar energy firm. The disputed land includes generations-old mango orchards. What began as a peaceful protest escalated as police intervened, triggering condemnation from farmer associations and civil society groups over alleged use of excessive force.
Farmer groups have denounced what they describe as repressive police action during a peaceful protest against the transfer of 8,350 acres of agricultural land, including the historic Ulavapadu mango orchards, to an energy firm. These lands, cultivated for decades, form the backbone of local agrarian livelihoods. Protesters argue the allocation disregards both heritage and sustainability, fuelling fears of displacement, ecological damage, and irreversible changes to the farming ecosystem.
Eyewitnesses and farmer union representatives have alleged that peaceful demonstrators were met with physical aggression and force by law enforcement. Visuals and testimonies from the site suggest a disproportionate response, with many describing the actions as intimidating. Community members are also raising concerns about the lack of dialogue and transparency in the decision-making process behind the land allocation to a private firm reportedly linked to an external religious trust.
Authorities defending the project claim it aligns with green energy goals. However, activists and local farmers question the logic of converting fertile, fruit-bearing land into industrial zones. They point out that the mango orchards support not just farmers but also a regional supply chain. Many worry that the forced handover could set a precedent for future displacements, especially if accountability for alleged police violence is not established.
The protest is drawing wider support from environmental and agrarian networks across the state, many of whom view the police crackdown as a test case for civil liberties and land rights. While the affected communities demand a rollback of the land decision, several experts have called for independent oversight and fair hearings. The incident also raises broader questions about the balance between clean energy development and ethical land governance.
The Kandukur land protest underscores deep tensions between agrarian rights and development imperatives. As pressure mounts on authorities to act against alleged police excesses, the spotlight is also on how future green energy projects are planned and executed. With livelihoods, ecological traditions, and civic freedoms at stake, farmers are determined to resist what they call an unjust takeover of their ancestral lands.
