Date:29/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/29/stories/2005072910410300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

CPI activists gherao RDO's office

Staff Reporter

Demand house sites, ration cards to the poor

Police prevent them from entering inside the office
RDO assures to issue pattas within two months

CPI leaders call off four-day fast

ANANTAPUR: The Communist Party of India (CPI) activists laid a siege to the RDO's office here on Thursday in support of the three party leaders who have been on an indefinite fast for the last four days, demanding house sites, ration cards and other benefits to the poor.

The party activists barged into the RDO's office premises and squatted all over demanding an assurance from the RDO, A. Ramprasad. As the RDO was not there the activists squatted on the premises from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They could not enter inside the office as the police stood guard.

A delegation of the CPI led by the former legislator, K. Ramakrishna, held discussion with the RDO for more than an hour and secured an assurance that the poor who had raised huts for long by encroaching Government land would be given house site pattas within a month.

Regarding encroachments on private and endowments lands a decision would be taken within two months, he said.

Later, the RDO visited the party leaders, who have been fasting, and gave them limejuice to break the fast. P. Narayanaswamy, C. Lingamaiah and Nagabhushanam were fasting for the last four days.