A woman set herself on fire on Thursday in front of revenue officials allegedly who were allegedly attempting to retrieve government land, amid incidents of farmers and land owners taking extreme steps to prevent the government taking back land from illegal settlers in Madhya Pradesh.
Three revenue officers executing the drive were left injured as a crowd began threw stones at them.
#मध्य_प्रदेश
— Prashant Shukla (प्रशान्त शुक्ल) (@JournoPrashant) July 30, 2020
Disturbing Visual
शिवराज का जंगलराज
देवास ज़िले के सतवास में खड़ी फसल पर जेसीबी चलवाने के शिवराज के फ़ैसले का विरोध करते हुये एक बेबस महिला ने खुद को आग के हवाले कर दिया@vinodkapri @DilliDurAst @AshrafFem @Prashantps100 @rohini_sgh @vijaita @Ashok_Kashmir pic.twitter.com/HZrrUYlDkc
The woman was soon hospitalised and is now said to be out of danger.
The police told media that the incident took place when officials were trying to remove crops sown on government land and a group of people protested the move.
The state government is engaged in carrying out surveys and anti-encroachment drives to identify land for building houses for the poor under the federal affordable housing scheme. This involves attempts to retrieve government land and demolish illegal structure.
The incident comes days after a lower caste (Dalit) couple reportedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticides in front of police officials to protest the government's anti-encroachment drive.
In the video, police can be seen hitting the couple. The police maintained they had to use force because the couple resisted attempts to take them to hospital.
1/ These policemen must get the same treatment from the people, watch that lady! 😡 $#!
— 🚧 Vikesh Tiwari 🚀 (@tvicky002) July 16, 2020
Consider this happening to your Parents?
Only the poor is going to suffer.
A Dalit couple in Guna, Madhya Pradesh tried to commit suicide in front of the police administration. #Guna pic.twitter.com/MdRpbixrRs
After the incident triggered nationwide outrage, six police personnel were suspended.
International human rights group Amnesty International took note of the incident and called for an high level inquiry for using "excessive force".
