Hyderabad, Dec.12 (NSS): The shackling of tribal farmer Hirya Naik, who suffered a heart attack while in jail, has sparked widespread outrage, with BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao strongly condemning the act as cruel, inhumane, and unconstitutional. KTR accused the Revanth Reddy government of targeting tribal farmers with vindictiveness and negligence.
Hirya Naik, a tribal farmer arrested during a protest in Lagcherla, experienced a heart attack while in jail. Instead of providing immediate medical assistance, the government delayed action and handcuffed him while transporting him to the hospital. KTR termed this act as “utterly unacceptable” and a clear violation of human rights.
“This despicable and inhumane behaviour cannot be forgiven. Shackling a person suffering from a heart attack reflects the cruelty of the government. Articles 14, 16, and 19 of the Constitution guarantee every individual’s rights, and these actions violate those rights. Even police and jail manuals outline the rights of undertrial prisoners, which have been blatantly disregarded,” KTR said during his press meet. He also revealed that Naik suffered a second heart attack due to the lack of timely medical attention. It was only after BRS’s intervention that the government decided to shift him to Hyderabad for advanced care.
KTR highlighted the deteriorating health of other detainees, including Raghavendra, Basappa, and former MLA Patnam Narender Reddy, who have been in custody for over a month. He accused the government of failing to provide basic healthcare and acting with a sense of arrogance and vendetta.
The BRS leader launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing him of turning the government into a tool for personal vendettas. KTR alleged that the arrests and subsequent mistreatment of Lagcherla farmers were a result of Revanth Reddy’s anger over their refusal to give up their lands.
“The Chief Minister is enjoying feasts and entertainment in Jaipur while Telangana’s tribal farmers are languishing in jail, fighting for their lives. If Rahul Gandhi truly cares about tribals, he must immediately instruct the Congress government to withdraw all cases against these farmers,” KTR said. The issue stems from a protest by Lagcherla farmers against the government’s attempt to seize tribal lands. Farmers alleged that the government wanted to acquire land worth ₹70 lakh for just ₹10 lakh. When they resisted, the government retaliated by arresting 17 farmers, including Naik and former MLA Narender Reddy.
Despite claims by the district Collector Prateek Jain that no attack occurred on him, the government pressed charges against the farmers, labelling them as perpetrators of violence. KTR accused the government of orchestrating a conspiracy to silence dissent and seize tribal lands for personal gain. The detainees reportedly faced third-degree torture in custody. KTR revealed that the farmers shared their ordeal during a jail visit, claiming that police threatened to implicate their families in false cases if they spoke out.
“The only crime these farmers committed was standing up for their land and refusing to bow to the Chief Minister’s arrogance. For this, they were subjected to unimaginable cruelty,” KTR stated. He demanded immediate action from the Telangana High Court and the Governor, urging them to investigate the incident and hold the government accountable. He called on Revanth Reddy to act humanely and withdraw all illegal cases against the farmers. “This is not governance; it is tyranny. The government must stop targeting tribal farmers and start respecting their rights,” KTR concluded.
