Mandalahalli Villagers Clash With Officials Over Bidadi Township Land Survey

On Monday, residents of Mandalahalli village in Bengaluru South district launched a violent protest against government officials conducting a land acquisition survey for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project. The Joint Measurement Committee (JMC) officials were forced to halt their work and flee the area after being chased and having their vehicles pelted with stones by angry villagers.

The survey is part of the state government's plan to acquire approximately 7,400 acres of land across nine villages for the project, popularly known as the Bidadi township project. The project, which is considered a pet project of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, has faced intense local resistance since the preliminary land acquisition notification was issued in March last year.

To prevent the survey, protesters initially blocked the main road leading to Mandalahalli village. However, JMC officials used alternative routes to reach the designated survey site.

When word spread of their arrival, several local women carrying brooms hit the streets and gathered at the survey spot, leading to a heated altercation. As a larger crowd of villagers began to assemble, the situation escalated. Video footage of the incident showed women hitting the survey officials with brooms and residents chasing an official away.

During the confrontation, a villager was heard telling a JMC member that none of their objections against the land acquisition process were being considered. The villager urged the officials to wait until they had a discussion and arrived at a decision with the government, rather than intimidating the local residents.

As the officials retreated, protesters pelted their vehicles with stones.

The opposition JD(S) political party condemned the survey, alleging that it was conducted without informing the villagers beforehand. JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy shared a video of the clash online, criticizing the government's approach.

Kumaraswamy stated that the government had failed to understand the sentiments of the farmers and was attempting to implement the project by force. He demanded the immediate release of any farmers taken into custody and called on the government to abandon the Bidadi township project entirely.