Police arrested eight persons, including farmers, who prevented entry of the visiting RITES team to the villages notified in the nine revenue panchayats for land survey for the proposed international airport at Bhogapuram, on Friday.
The technical survey has begun with the marking of boundaries with stones and it is likely to go on for 45 to 60 days.
When contacted, Tehsildar D. Lakshma Reddy claimed that the survey on the second day passed off peacefully. However, he said, when farmers blocked way of the visiting team by squatting on the ground at Ravada, police hauled them into their vehicles and detained them at Bhogapuram police station.
Following their arrests, villagers led by local CPI (M), CPI, YSRCP leaders reached police station and staged protests demanding that the arrested be released unconditionally.
Section 30
in force
However, Vizianagaram DSP Venkata Ratnam registered FIR against eight members of Airport Vyathirekha Porata Committee. Section 30 of Police Act has been in force since the government has announced acquisition of land for the airport a couple of months ago.
The protest by the committee members has been going on when the last reports came in at 6pm.
