With their pleas falling on deaf ears, Gadwal farmer, kin threaten to commit mass suicide

Gadwal: Unable to get their problems resolved through Prajavaani programme, a farmer from Mallapur village of KT Doddi mandal in Jogulamba-Gadwal district along with his family members threatened to commit mass suicide at the Collector's office on Monday.

According to sources, Koravi Paati Timmappa and his father Laxmaiah has been carrying out cultivation in about 9 acre 34 guntas of land in survey number 496, which has been under their possession since 1980. However, of late, Suresh Reddy, an advocate, had sent notices to the family members stating that the land under their possession was in his name, and asked them to vacate the land with immediate effect.

Shocked with the sudden development, Timmappa approached the Prajavaani programme last year and lodged his complaint. He urged the officials to help him retain the land. However, despite repeated requests, none came forward to the rescue of the farmer. Depressed over the official apathy, Timmappa, on Monday, along with 10 of his family members reached the Collector's office. The farmer and his family members, including children, threatened to commit suicide by drinking the pesticide they brought if the officials did not address their problem.

However, the alert police and other senior revenue officials foiled their suicide bid by snatching away the pesticide bottles and took the family members to the District Collector. "We are fed up making rounds to various departments for the last one year. Not a single official had showed interest in resolving our issue despite repeated requests and complaints. As a last resort, we have all decided to commit suicide en masse as we have no other option but to die," said Timmappa.

Meanwhile, District Collector Shashank, who heard them, assured them of resolving their issue in a couple of days.