At a time when the Andhra Pradesh government has been strictly implementing the lockdown restrictions to prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease, farmers of Amaravati have been continuing their agitation on a big or small scale for retaining the capital region.
Since the police are strictly enforcing the lockdown restrictions, the farmers have stopped gathering in big numbers at their villages under tents, which they used to do in the past to stage dharnas and demonstrations.
They are still continuing their agitation in front of their houses every day in some form or the other, but not in big gatherings. However, on Saturday, around 12-15 farmers of Venkatayapalem village took out a procession, raising slogans Jai Amaravati, Jai Jai Amaravati for some time.
Naturally, this has angered the police, as the villagers did not listen to their warnings. As a result, the Thullur police on Monday served notices on the farmers who participated in the rally, including a few women, as to why action should not be taken against them for violating norms.
Stating that Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code and Section 30 of the Police Act are in force in the entire state, the police said in the notice that the farmers were liable for prosecution under Section 188, 269, 270 and 271 of the Indian Penal Code.
“They have not only raised slogans but also moved in groups in the streets in violation of the lockdown rules,” the notice said.
