Hyderabad: A farmer from Ravulapalli village in Suryapet district collapsed and died during a police inquiry on Monday, police said.
Police identified the deceased as Lazarus. He collapsed at the village gram panchayat office while Tungaturthi Circle Inspector Narasimha Rao questioned farmers over a land dispute. Officials rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Family members said Lazarus bought 11 acres of agricultural land in 2007 from Kethireddy Vijayasena Reddy and had cultivated it since then. They alleged that Vijayasena Reddy’s wife, Soujanya Reddy, and her daughters recently registered two acres and 20 guntas of the same land in their names without Lazarus’ knowledge.
The family further alleged that the Tungaturthi tahsildar facilitated the disputed registration, which triggered tension in the village. As a result, Lazarus and other farmers staged a dharna at the Tungaturthi tahsil office on the 2nd of this month, demanding justice.
Suryapet farmer death sparks protest over land dispute
Police said Lazarus collapsed while officials conducted the inquiry into the land dispute. Preliminary findings suggest a heart attack, and officials are awaiting further verification.
After his death, family members and villagers staged a dharna in front of Soujanya Reddy’s house. They placed Lazarus’ body at the protest site and demanded action against her and the police personnel they blamed for the incident.
Police later brought the situation under control. Officials said they will take further legal action after examining land ownership and registration documents.
