Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday directed the Medak district SP to allow Congress leaders C. Damodar Raja Narasimha and V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy to visit three villages that are within the purview of Mallannasagar reservoir. While granting an interim order directing the police to permit the two former minister to visit the villages, Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao told the petitioners that there shall be no rally or public meeting.
Each petitioner was permitted to take along four followers and the police was to ensure security for the visit. The judge also told the petitioners that they could not address the press in the village but could do so in Hyderabad later. The SP would have to be given 24 hours’ notice before the proposed visit. The police was directed not to intimidate the villagers the petitioners planned to meet before, during or after the visit.
During the course of hearing the judge wondered at the action of the police and pointed out how could there be such blanket restrictions. Referring to statements by the SP and one of the ministers that people opposing the project will be lodged in jails, the judge wondered: “Whether we are in Kashmir.” The Congress leaders had challenged the police preventing them from visiting their associates and well-wishers in Vemulaghat, Yeravalli and Singaram villages of Thogutta and Kondapaka mandals of the district as they are in very dangerous situation.
They told the court that residents of villages which fall under the Mallannasagar reservoir have been protesting against the offiicials and middlemen pressurising them to sell their lands at low prices for the proposed reservoir by denying them benefits under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
They said that the police prevented them from visiting the villages on July 28. Counsel for the government told the judge that prohibitory orders were imposed after stone pelting and violence in certain villages which also left some cops injured. He said that the Opposition leaders may lead processions which may lead to law and order problem.
