A COP SLAPPED FARMER

By Anshika Khera

A police constable was caught on camera slapping a farmer who was waiting in a long queue for urea at the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) office in Nalgonda district of Telangana. The police constable is identified as Deshya Naik. The severe urea shortage led to this incident and also led to breakdown of law and order and a near stampede situation in the state.

Farmers have lined up as early as 3 in the morning because they have been struggling for days to get urea for their crops. However, as the crowd swelled, the situation became chaotic. The police, who were deployed to control the crowd, seemed overwhelmed and lost control. The act of the constable of slapping the farmer instilled rage among the other farmers and they expressed their outrage over the police’s high-handedness.

The situation was so out of control that a near stampede unfolded , causing three female farmers to lose consciousness. This incident is the latest in a series of similar events across Telangana, where the ongoing urea shortage has led to farmer protests and clashes with authorities. Farmers in Nirmal district recently protested as a farmer was allegedly pushed out of a PACS office by the CEO when he came for urea.

In response,Rajendra, in charge at the PACS office in Nirmal district , said as quoted, “When the farmers came inside and asked if their Aadhar cards were linked, I said that if they came inside like this, it would be chaos. I got up and said, “move aside, brother”. That is all. What more can I say?” The government has appealed to the central government for more urea, promising farmers that the supply will be restored soon.