Date:23/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/23/stories/2006102306220400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Farmers `lock up' MRO for four hours

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: Angry farmers allegedly locked up Mandal Revenue Officer of Yellanur mandal Ramakrishna in the village secretariat building for about four hours on Saturday. They accused him of committing irregularities in the list of beneficiaries for input subsidy being given for the crop loss suffered during the 2005 kharif.

According to the police the MRO was taken `hostage' by the farmers when he went to the village as part of his routine visit.

The farmers alleged that names of several ineligible farmers were included in the beneficiaries' list at the cost of genuine farmers who had suffered crop loss last year.

Police team rushes

A police team from Tadipatri led by DSP Nagabhushana Reddy rushed to the village and pacified the farmers, who freed the MRO.