Farmers take to unique protest to save their land

Jaipur Oct 4 (IANS) Some farmers have been staging a unique protest -- Zameen Samadhi Satyagraha -- for the last three days in Ninder village near here to oppose acquisition of land by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) for a residential project.

As part of the protest which was preceded by a 14-day dharna (sit-in) the farmers have "buried" themselves in neck-deep pits.

"We started our Zameen Samadhi Satyagraha on October 2 and at present at least 50 farmers have buried themselves neck-deep in pits. Nearly half of these 50 persons are women " Nagendra Singh Shekhawat convenor of Ninder Bachao Yuva Kisan Sangarsh Samiti told IANS.

He said these farmers who participated in the protest on a daily rotation basis came out of the pit only to attend nature s call every day.

"We will continue with the agitation till our demand is met " Shekhawat said.

"We are against the acquisition of land by the JDA... we want the acquisition revoked " said a farmer "buried" neck-deep in a pit.

As per the plan the JDA was to acquire over 1 300 bighas of land to develop a housing scheme here. So far it has taken possession of 600 bighas of land.

--IANS
as/nir/dg