Anakapalli Tribal Women Stage 'Hanging' Protest for Land Titles

VISHAKHAPATNAM: Desperate for land titles, tribal women in Anakapalli district's Gonugunta village resorted to a dramatic protest: tying ropes around their necks and 'hanging' from cashew trees. These Bagata women demanded the reinstatement of land titles revoked in 2016 by RDO Surya Rao.

Back then, tribal farmers, facing title cancellations across the Gonugunta area, held numerous dharnas to pressure the joint collector for a field survey. Shiva Jyoti, the assigned RDO, deemed the farmers' claim legitimate and recommended title issuance.

However, a recent government rescheduling excluded Ravikamatham mandal from the scheduled zone, leaving farmers like those in Gonugunta title-less once again. Frustrated, the women took to this symbolic 'hanging' protest, hoping for urgent government intervention.