AIKS Congratulates Victorious ‘Bagair Hukum’ Cultivators
AIKS Press Release: 1st April, 2023
Forest Land Cultivators Resist Take-Over of Land by Forest Authorities in Karnataka
AIKS Congratulates Victorious ‘Bagair Hukum’ Cultivators
AIKS Condemns Brutal Attack and Seeks Action Against Authorities Responsible
The All India Kisan Sabha congratulates the victorious struggle of the Bagair Hukum cultivators in Gangaiyyanapalya, Chelur Hobli of Tumkur District in Karnataka who resisted the Forest Department authorities who were digging trenches and planting trees on land being cultivated by farmers for generations. It was a timely intervention by the farmers under the banner of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (Affiliated to AIKS) that ensured such a victory. AIKS notes with concern that the forest authorities violated all norms and indulged in blatant violation of human rights. More than 30 farmers including women and leaders of the KPRS suffered injuries. Gubbi Taluk President Doddananjaiah suffered severe head injury requiring 31 stitches and hospitalisation. AIKS demands strong deterrent action on the personnel responsible for the attack.
In 2014 the Bagair Hukum farmers of about 35 villages of various Panchayats including Cheluru Hobli Manchaladore, Anakasandra Gram Panchayat etc., who have been cultivating the land for more than 70 years, were forcibly evicted by unleashing different kinds of attacks, harassment, most inhuman cruelty, and imprisonment. About two thousand families were evicted. The aggrieved farmers organised against the atrocities meted to them under the red flag of the KPRS and waged various stages of struggle to get back their arable land in the last 8 years. AIKS leaders also visited and participated in these actions.
Forest personnel had a few days ago illegally entered into farmers’ Bagair Hukum land and dug trenches by preventing farmers using batons and other weapons. On March 17, 2023, the farmers embarked on a Jail Bharo struggle for repossession of their land. After a resolute struggle for five days facing immense violence by the forest department and the police, farmers have finally managed to evict the forest department from the land. The struggle was temporarily called off after assurance by the Forest Department that no more trenches would be dug; trees would not be planted and all work would be halted. KPRS warned that in the event of violation of the agreement farmers will start ploughing the land and begin cultivation. Later, the leaders of the struggling farmers held a meeting and decided to continue the struggle to pressurise the government to return all these lands illegally transferred from the revenue department to the forest department. In an inspiring action today farmers closed the illegal trenches holding high the red flag of All India Kisan Sabha.
AIKS warns the forest department and the BJP Government against such illegal eviction of farmers who have traditionally been cultivating the land and demands land rights for the cultivators. The struggle shall continue till all farmers get land rights.
Sd/-
Ashok Dhawale
President
Vijoo Krishnan
General Secretary
