Police Save Farmer From Attempted Self-Immolation Then Send Him A Bill For Rs 10 Lakh

Last updated:Dec 24, 2024 2:20 PM IST

The police intervention resulted in a demand for him to pay Rs 9,99,577 for deploying 99 constables and government vehicles.

Vidyadhar Yadav’s decision to threaten self-immolation stemmed from his ongoing frustration with a cement company.

A farmer from Gothra Hall Devgaon in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, faces a significant financial penalty after threatening to set himself on fire in protest against a local cement company. Following the farmer’s announcement, police were sent to the spot to prevent the tragic event, and now the authorities are demanding nearly Rs 10 lakh from the farmer to cover the cost of the operation.

Vidyadhar Yadav, 45, had declared on December 11 that he planned to end his life in front of the cement factory in Gothra. In response to this threat, a large police force was quickly deployed to the location, including 99 constables and multiple government vehicles, all costing the state Rs 9,99,577.

On December 17, Jhunjhunu Superintendent of Police Sharad Chaudhary issued a formal order demanding that Vidyadhar Yadav pay the full amount to reimburse the government for the safety measures taken to prevent the self-immolation.

Vidyadhar Yadav’s decision to threaten self-immolation stemmed from his constant frustration with the cement company operating in his village. He alleged that the company had unlawfully encroached on his land and harassed his family. According to Yadav, the company demolished his family home, located on land within the company’s mining area, without offering any fair compensation.

On the day of the self-immolation attempt, Yadav and his family had set up a funeral pyre in front of the cement company gate, intending to protest the destruction of their house. Police arrived at the scene and intervened, removing the family from the premises and taking Yadav into custody to prevent the tragedy from unfolding.

Yadav stated that his family’s fate had gone unheard for too long. He alleged that despite numerous attempts to seek justice, the company had consistently ignored his concerns. He now felt trapped, and his only way out was to take such extreme measures to draw attention to their suffering.

Land compensation dispute

The root of the conflict lies in a land purchase dispute between Yadav’s family and the cement company. Yadav and his brother, Sukhdev Yadav, own a portion of land – 3,118 hectares – in Gothra village, which is in the cement factory’s mining zone. In 2021, the local authorities directed that the compensation for the land should be fixed at Rs 22,47,773 per bigha. This was later renegotiated in October 2023, with the cement company agreeing to increase the compensation to Rs 26 lakh per bigha.

In total, the compensation for Yadav’s land and the destruction of his house was estimated at Rs 3,05,10,909. However, Yadav claimed that despite the agreement, he did not receive full compensation and the company continued to delay payments. Furthermore, he alleged that the company had only provided his family with temporary housing for a year and a half, rather than offering a permanent solution to replace their demolished home.

Yadav’s frustration was compounded by persistent threats from the company, which had pressured him and his family to stop protesting. “The company took our land and demolished our parental home. Our only crime was standing up for our rights,” he said, adding: “Now we have only empty promises.”

Adding to Yadav’s woes, the recent police intervention resulted in a demand for him to pay Rs 9,99,577 for deploying 99 constables and using government vehicles. The police action was aimed at preventing the attempted self-immolation, but now Yadav finds himself in a difficult situation and is being asked to pay for the costs associated with preventing his own tragedy.

The demand sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the fairness of charging the farmer for the use of police, especially when his actions were borne of desperation in the face of injustice. Locals expressed solidarity with Yadav and condemned the cement company for allegedly mistreating the farmer and his family.

Several community leaders called for an overhaul of the compensation process and have demanded that the company be held accountable for its actions.

Location:

Jhunjhunu, India

News India Police Save Farmer From Attempted Self-Immolation Then Send Him A Bill For Rs 10 Lakh