After 30 years, tribal seeks right price for diamond

ANANTAPUR: Seventy-five-year-old Guse Naik alias Bhuse Naik of Bommaganipalli tanda in Teetakal has been fighting with the state government and the archaeology department for additional compensation for his diamond, believed to weigh 80-85 carat, taken over by the government three decades ago. The diamond is now at a museum in Hyderabad.

It was on July 13, 1972 while digging his land that Mr Naik farmer found a shiny stone. Hoping it may be a diamond, he approached goldsmiths seeking valuation. The goldsmiths escaped with the stone. Mr Naik approached the Guntakal police who registered a case and arrested the goldsmiths when they tried to sell it in Mumbai. The police also recovered the diamond.

The state archaeological department took over the diamond based on directions by the Kalyan-adurgam court. The baffled farmer was assured that he would be compensated for the stone. A government petrologic assessor valued the stone at Rs 2.5 lakh and the amount was paid to Mr Naik after treating him as owner. But he has been fighting for additional compensation as he claims that the 80 carat diamond costs mo-re than Rs 10 crore.