Date:12/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101260950600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Narayana threatens to launch indefinite fast

HYDERABAD: Communist Party of India State secretary K. Narayana has threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike from October 26 if the government fails to take back 498 acres of land at New Hafeezpet in Serilingampally mandal from encroachers and distribute it to the poor.

Dr. Narayana led the party activists and several people in ‘taking possession’ of the land on Thursday in the wake of complaints from locals that ‘armed henchmen’ of real estate dealers were preventing them to enter the area. People, who thronged the area in large numbers, demolished the temporary shelters allegedly put up by the realtors and hoisted the party flags. The CPI workers assaulted some persons present at the spot.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Narayana expressed concern that land worth hundreds of crores of rupees had been encroached by vested interests who managed to produce fake documents.