Toddy tappers attacked, houses ransacked

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, DEC. 8. Nearly 30 houses belonging to toddy tappers of Dahegaon village under Armoor mandal were ransacked and damaged by the local residents after differences arose over the fixation of the annual goodwill amount by the Village Development Committee (VDC) for toddy tapping by the village.

Five persons sustained injuries in the attack and several household articles such as television sets, furniture and cooking vessels were damaged or taken away by miscreants. The loss of property was put at Rs. 1 lakh by the victims.

According to reports reaching here, trouble has been brewing in Dahegaon village for the past two months over the fixation of the annual goodwill amount for toddy tapping in the village by the persons belonging to the Goud community. The Village Development Committee had summoned a meeting on October 16 to decide the annual goodwill amount and enhanced the amount for this year. The meeting also directed the toddy tappers not to sell toddy to those belonging to other villages.

Members of the toddy-tapping community protested the decision and made it clear that they would not abide by the instructions. The VDC wanted the goodwill amount to be enhanced to Rs. 75,000 which the toddy tappers refused to pay. Since that day, the VDC had given a call to boycott consumption of toddy in the village nor allow sale of the same. Again yesterday, the VDC decided to hold another meeting and summoned the toddy tappers where it was decided that they would pay Rs. 75,000 as goodwill amount.

However, as the meeting was in progress, some miscreants made an announcement over the public address system from the VDC office that the toddy tappers had attacked the committee members. Following this, several villagers, armed with sticks, cycle chains and iron rods, rushed to the venue of the meeting and mercilessly assaulted the toddy tappers. Subsequently, the mob marched to the houses of the toddy tappers and began ransacking them. Women and children ran away sensing trouble. The mob caused extensive damage to the houses and threw out the belongings of the toddy tappers.

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Toddy Tappers Association has strongly criticised the incident in Degam village. In a statement, Mr. Rajender Patel Goud and Mr. B. Ramulu said that attacks on toddy tappers was on the increase, and wanted the Government to provide protection so that such incidents did not recur.

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Section  : Southern States
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