Dalits in Dosapadu village undertook an unconventional fishing protest on Friday.
At least 45 Dalit families in Dosapadu village have lost lands granted by the government to them over the past 20 years. They lost their lands to landlords through illegal land transfers in contravention of the A.P Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977.
The landlords turned the sites into lucrative fish ponds for aquaculture business. The business was allegedly netting around Rs 4-5 lacs/acre yearly.
On September 2, the Dalits occupied the land and undertook fishing in the 400 acres of fish ponds. They captured several tonnes of fish and distributed that among each other.
The police and the Tehsildar of Denduluru reached the spot and held discussions with the villagers and leaders. The leaders gave an ultimatum that fishing would continue until the land was returned to the original assignees.
The protest received support from the CPI(M) and the All India Agricultural Workers Union. They plan to repeat this protest till they get justice and the land is returned to their families.
The case is tied up in litigation despite a Lokayukta order stating that these lands were encroached upon. The Dalit families have been fighting to retrieve their lands since 2007.