A distressing incident unfolded in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, where a farmer, accompanied by his wife and three children, resorted to crawling on their knees in front of the sub-divisional magistrate’s office. The shocking protest, aimed at drawing attention to their ongoing land dispute, has since gone viral on social media.
Farmer’s Ordeal Over Blocked Land Access
The farmer, identified as Lakshman from Khategoan village in Dewas district, is embroiled in a land dispute with a neighbour over his 1.5-acre agricultural plot in Davtha village, located approximately 100 kilometers from Dewas. Lakshman claims that his neighbor has blocked access to his land and prevented him from harvesting his maize crop. Despite several attempts to seek help from local authorities, Lakshman alleges that his pleas have gone unanswered, leaving him feeling helpless.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Dewas से हैरान करने वाला वीडियो, पत्नी-बच्चों के साथ घुटनों के बल अफसर के पास फरियाद करने पहुंचा किसान ! MP Tak pic.twitter.com/3jy6qh648u
— MP Tak (@MPTakOfficial) December 12, 2024
Unconventional Protest to Seek Attention
On Wednesday, Lakshman and his family took to an unusual form of protest, crawling on their knees in front of the sub-divisional magistrate’s office. In the video, which rapidly spread across social media platforms, the family’s distress is visible as they seek justice for their land dispute. The incident has sparked outrage and sympathy among viewers, highlighting the farmer’s desperation.
Government’s Response to the Protest
The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Priya Chandrawat, responded to the incident by acknowledging that Lakshman had lost a civil court case against his neighbour regarding the land dispute. However, she assured the public that the tehsildar and patwari (revenue officials) would visit the site to investigate further and attempt to find a resolution.
Lakshman’s case underscores the larger issue of unresolved land disputes in rural India and the challenges faced by farmers in seeking justice. The viral video has brought attention to his struggle, and many are now calling for prompt action from authorities to resolve his case.
Ongoing Struggles in Rural India
Land disputes are a common issue in rural India, where farmers often face significant barriers in obtaining legal redress. The viral video of Lakshman and his family highlights the severity of the situation, with the farmer going to extreme lengths to gain the attention of authorities in the hopes of a fair resolution.
The public’s reaction to the incident reflects the growing frustration with inefficiencies in the legal and administrative systems, especially for marginalised communities like farmers.
