The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has issued a notice to landholders in the Devanahalii Taluka, Bengaluru Rural district, informing them of the body’s intention to acquire 1777 acres of agricultural land for Haraluru Industrial Area. However, the landholders, primarily farmers, oppose the move as they claim it will render them landless and impact their livelihoods.
According to media reports, the land is intended for the second phase of the Haraluru Industrial Estate Park, a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the region set up in 2018 to encourage a range of manufacturing industries including aerospace and defence technologies. KIADB has not disclosed the exact nature of industries or the amount of investment planned in the region.
The Gazette acquisition notice was first published in August 2021 and individual landowners received notices between December 2021 and January 2022. A total of 1777.29 acres of land from 13 villages were listed by the KIADB in these notices. Approximately 1287 families are likely to be affected by this acquisition, out of which 387 families are landless.
Pramod Kumar, a resident of Pollanahalli village, while speaking to LCW, stated that over 70 percent of those hit with acquisition notices were opposing the move. “We are farmers and this is our main occupation. The land is our only source of livelihood for most of us,” said Pramod.
Farmers in the region grow a mix of cash crops like vegetables, flowers, silk mulberry, and millets like ragi. Affected farmers also have small poultry farms and cattle holding. “My father has raised and educated us through his income from farming. We do not want to give up this occupation,” said Harshan Gowda, a twenty year old student from the region to LCW.
The KIADB had already acquired several thousand acres during the first phase of the Haraluru Industrial Area but had not yet used the land. Neither have they provided compensation for the lands so acquired during the first phase of the project. This is making farmers unwilling to part with more land.
Initially farmers registered their objection through letters to the District Commissioner and various political leaders including the Chief Minister, explained Pramod. Seeing no change in the government stance, farmers in the region began an indefinite protest from April 2022, which included tractor rallies, dharnas and silent protests in Devanahalli, and in Bengaluru city.
The protests have been going on since April 2022. On 15th August, 71 individuals were arrested when a protest had been planned in Devanahalli town. The Devanahalli police allege that the protestors were disrupting Independence Day celebrations and flag hoisting and violating the Karnataka High Court order to protest only in Freedom Park in Bengaluru. An FIR was also filed against them. Protestors on the other hand allege that the police began arresting protestors from their camp and homes at 4 am well before any protest could occur. They also accuse the police of heavy handedness and violence.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand to get back acquired land
Demand for compensation
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
72
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
No, they were not produced before a magistrate at all
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
IPC 1860
(Sections 188, 283, 290, 291).
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Neither were they informed, nor did they have access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Delay in compensation
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Physical attack
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
Farmers from the Devanahalli taluka had planned a silent protest in the Channarayapatna Hoblli on August 15th, 2022. At 4 am on Independence day, the Devanahalli police arrested several protestors from a protest camp in the taluk. Protestors allege that the police also picked up opposing farmers from their homes. The Devanahalli police deny this in media reports and in an FIR claim most protestors were arrested for disrupting Independence Day celebrations in Devanahalli Town. Protestors were first held in the Devanahalli Police station, then shifted to the Yelahanka Police Station (under Bengaluru Urban) and released on the same night. It is alleged that the police hit protestors asking about the reason for their arrest. One protestor, Pramod M. from Polanahalli, sustained an eye injury during the Police raid. In all the Devanahalli Police arrested 72 protestors.
Date of Violation
August 14, 2022
Location of Violation
Channarayapatna Hobli, Devanahalli
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Revenue Department, Bangalore Rural District
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Farmers
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
72
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
No, they were not produced before a magistrate at all
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
IPC 1860
(Sections 188, 283, 290, 291).
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Neither were they informed, nor did they have access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Bhanu is a journalist based in Bengaluru. She has primarily reported on the environment including issues surrounding biodiversity and access to nature and has been published in Citizen Matters, Mongabay India, Wire and the Caravan. She currently focuses on urban issues, including how a rapidly expanding Bengaluru impacts natural resources and people around the city.
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