Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, July 16: Andaman and Nicobar Police has arrested nearly 175 people, mostly tsunami affected farmers from Sippighat area of South Andaman for blocking roads to protest against the move of local Administration to demand surrender of land, in lieu of tsunami compensation.
“We have arrested a little more than 175 people under section 107 and 151 CrPC for obstructing Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) and violating loud speaker permission of Sub Divisional Magistrate. We have also seized the PA System and Jeep,” SBS Tyagi the Superintendent of Police of South Andaman told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.
Protesting farmer of South Andaman under the banner of Gram Vikas Samity, headed by lone Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, blocked the Andaman Trunk Road at around 9.00 am today and by 9.40 am all protesters were arrested by police to ensure proper movement vehicles on ATR.
However, the police did not arrest the Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray and the President of local BJP unit Mr. R Mohan.
All the detailed farmers were later brought to Island Tourism Festival Ground and kept there till late evening.
“The Sub Divisional Magistrate is here and he has powers to discharge arrested persons from here, so we will not take protesting farmers to Prothrapur District Jail,” the SP added.
“We will continue our protest till our demands are fulfilled. All farmers have collectively resolved not to surrender their land to receive compensation for land loss in a tsunami and in any case we will not surrender our land,” Rajesh Lal, the General Secretary of Gram Vikas Samity told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.
This is the third such protest by Gram Vikas Samity to press this demand.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration recently announced that the Expenditure Finance Committee of the Central Government in its meeting held on 27 June 2012 had approved the grant of compensation in lieu of submerged land of the farmers affected by Tsunami.
“Why the Government wants our land in lieu of compensation? What would poor farmers do after surrendering their land to Government?” Lall added.
helloo…good mrng andaman
the thingd which is happening in andaman now, this is totally blank and coating of malai in front of public…actually our beloved MP have already some myths on our LG..this two people are having already some misunderstanings with each others…so our mp is taking advantage from this situation…cant believe in this that our public also supporting him…in andaman bjp is going like “withput driver for vehicle”…thanx frnds bye take care…..
Respecting Sir,
It is not fair to take the submerged land from the farmers to provide compensation. Because in Andaman Island the most of the farmers are depend on their field.
And if farmers doesn’t get the compensation without in lieu of submerged land even the family doesn’t have any financial support.That if farmers can’t get that benefits then why the government has given compensation to the peoples those who are working as a government servant who is effected by tsunami and it is an unfair justice if the farmer doesn’t get the compensation without taking their farms i.e their job