Farmers in the Cheyyar area of Tiruvannamalai district are strongly opposing the acquisition of agricultural land for the SIPCOT industrial estate. The arrest of protesting farmers under the Goonda Act has further angered the people of the area.

“I am 55 years old. My son is a differently-abled person. I am running my family by cultivating the three and a half acres of land that I have. This land has been in my family for the fourth generation. They say they will take it away and give me money and a job.

What kind of job will they give me at this age? What kind of job will they give my son? If you leave us in peace, we will manage to survive,” says Karthikeyan, a farmer from Kurumboor village in Cheyyar.

Karthikeyan’s voice is filled with rage as he speaks. Not just him, but all the farmers in that area are furious.

The farmers of that area believe that the Tamil Nadu government is imposing severe oppression on them by announcing the acquisition of agricultural land for the industrial estate, suppressing the protest against it, and arresting some of those involved in the protest under the Goondas Act.

The farmers say that they have been cultivating these lands for generations and that they are their only source of livelihood. They are also worried about the environmental impact of the industrial estate.

The farmers have been protesting against the acquisition of their lands for several months. They have held rallies, demonstrations, and hunger strikes. However, the government has not been responsive to their demands.

The farmers are determined to continue their fight until their lands are returned to them. They are confident that they will eventually win justice.