Swindled by Broker, 90 Farmers Sold Their Land for Pittance in AP

When a group of farmers resisted, an influential broker, allegedly threatened them to sell the land.

An Indian farmer looks towards the sky, while standing amidst his drought-stricken crop. Image used for representation. (Photo: Reuters)

In November 2016, farmers from the Madupaka village of Pendurthi Mandal in Vishakapattinam district faced a strange quandary. They were told by a broker that they could either sell their land to him at a ‘good price’ or wait for the government to take it over for whatever price the government offered.

When a group of farmers resisted, the broker, a man with influential connections in the area, allegedly threatened them.

In November 2016, the broker Venkata Raghu Rama Raju scared farmers and convinced them to sell their lands. He gave them a down payment of Rs 1 lakh per acre. He had agreed to pay a total of Rs 30 lakhs per acre, but that money was never given.

Aripalli Ganesh, Madupaka Village

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On Monday, distressed farmers from the area protested against the land grabbing. The farmers want their land deeds, taken away by Rama Raju, to be handed back.

Farmers in the Madupaka village. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

With the protests gathering momentum, the opposition too, is jumping in. Vijaya Sai Reddy, YSR Congress Party’s Secretary, leaders of the CPI, CPI (M) and BSP visited the village.

Rama Raju, the farmers allege, told them that since the Vishaka Urban Development Authority (VUDA) was acquiring land from a nearby village called SR Puram for their land pooling programme, Madupaka village farmers too would have to part with their land.

The government had given these lands to the farmers in 1978 through a land distribution programme. A total of 950 acres of land was given to landless farmers, of which pattadar books were given for around 450 acres.

According to Paidi Raju, CPI Vishakapatanam District president, Rama Raju, a middleman close to Pendurthi MLA Bangaru Sathya Narayana Murthy, pressurised farmers to give them the lands at the price he offered price.

He told them that otherwise, the government will take the lands anyway, without giving anything. The land must be given back or he must pay the farmers as per market price.

Paidi Raju

During the time of agreement, farmers were made to sign on plain stamp papers, the CPI and farmers alleged.

Transactions on assigned land is null and void as per the Assigned Land (Prohibition and Transfer) Act of 1977. So, the government should intervene.

Paidi Raju

Almost all victims of this scam are Dalits and belong to economically weaker section of the society.

Farmers allege that Rama Raju gave away their lands to VUDA, and made Rs 1.20 crore for every acre.

When TNM contacted VUDA, officials said that even though the government had identified five villages for land pooling programme, it did not involve the Madupaka village.

We have not taken any land from this village. We have, however, got two proposals from someone in the village saying they want to join the land pooling programme.

VUDA Official

"MLA Bandaru Sathya Narayan Murthy should come and fight for the farmers if he hasn’t committed any wrong,” JVS Murthy CPI Central committee member told TNM.

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(This article was first published on The News Minute and has been republished with their permission.)

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