Coimbatore: In a desperate attempt to draw the attention of the district collector to the “goonda raj and land grabbing” in their village, more than 20 women from Venmani Nagar in Pellathi village near Coimbatore decided to set themselves on fire in front of the Collectorate on Monday.
There was high drama outside the Collectorate on Monday morning as a group of 50 villagers along with their children from Venmani Nagar near Karamadai brought bottles of kerosene and just as the police on security watched in shock, about 20 women poured the kerosene over their children and themselves.
Cops quickly snatched the kerosene bottles. Firefighters rushed to the Collectorate and sprayed water on the women and children who were drenched in kerosene.
They were given first aid and let off. According to the protesters, who spoke to DC, a gang was trying to grab the land alloted to them by the government, meant exclusively for the people from backward communities.
The gang, which had initially offered to get electricity connection, drinking water, and street light facility for the villagers, was now trying to usurp their land. “Despite repeated complaints to the police and the district collector, there has been no response,” they said.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the gang descended on the village, attacked the villagers, threatening them to vacate their land. “Women were abused and they have threatened to kill us,” said a protesting villager.
“Left with no option to save our land, we decided to attempt mass suicide in front of the collectorate,” they added.
