The mass suicide attempt made by the family of a Muslim farmer – Akbar Basha of Mydukuru in Kadapa district on Monday night over the dispute over piece of land has once again brought to light the glaring disparity between what is happening at the ground level and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s level.
Akbar Basha, his wife Afsana and his two daughters – Haseena and Haseeba, attempted suicide by consuming pesticide at their residence at Chagalamarri in Kurnool district on Sunday night. They were immediately rushed to the hospital by their relatives and locals.
While Basha, wife and one of the daughters are said to be out of danger, the condition of another daughter is said to be critical.
In a selfie video posted in the social media on September 10, Basha lamented that a YSRC leader Tirupal Reddy, who claimed to be relative of the chief minister, encroached upon his 1.5 acres of land. When the farmers went to the police station to lodge a complaint, he was threatened by the police inspector Konda Reddy.
Basha alleged that the CI had abused him in filthy language and threatened to kill him in encounter, if he came in the way of Tirupal Reddy. He was forced to sit in the police station all through the night, while the land grabbers encroached his land.
He said he had brought this to the notice of the chief minister in Spandana programme and he had no option but to commit suicide if justice was not done to him.
However, the issue appeared to have come to a happy end the following day with the intervention of the chief minister. On his instructions, Kadapa SP K K N Anburajan announced that the Mydukuru circle inspector was shifted from the place pending inquiry.
Apparently, Jagan ordered the officials to see that the land is restored to Basha and the latter issued a statement praising Jagan as a “god.” Kadapay Mayor also announced that Basha was a YSRC worker and justice would be done to his family.
But within 10 days, Basha attempted suicide along with the family. It is learnt though the YSRC leaders and officials told the chief minister that the issue was settled and the land was handed over to Basha, it actually did not happen at the ground level. The land still continues to be in possession of Tirupal Reddy family.
On Monday, the Kadapa SP said inquiries revealed that the land was in the name of Basha’s aunt Kasim Bee of Kadapa district. Though she had earlier gifted the land to Basha family, she had cancelled the gift deed as Basha had gone to Kuwait for livelihood. Later, she had sold it to Tirupal Reddy’s son, the SP said.
“If there are any civil disputes, they should approach the revenue authorities or courts. Suicide is not a solution,” the SP said.