Accused farmers produced in court handcuffed; 2 cops suspended

Two police sub-inspectors were suspended today for allegedly producing ten arrested farmers in a Khammam magisterial court near here in handcuffs.
The two Armed Reserve Police sub-inspectors were suspended after a political row erupted following the farmers' production in court in handcuffs.
The ten chilli farmers had been arrested for "vandalising" Khammam Agriculture Market Yard office on April 28 during an agitation triggered by sudden fall in chilli prices.
Following their production in the court, the farmers were eventually granted bail and released.
After suspending the SIs for "breaching" the handcuffing norms, an inquiry too was ordered into the incident, said IGP (North Zone) Y Nagi Reddy.

"Two Armed Reserve Police sub-inspectors, who were leading the police team and responsible for following the rules regarding the use of handcuffs, failed to do so. They were placed under suspension," Reddy said.

"Handcuffing was not necessary. There are clear guidelines and if the handcuffing of the accused is required, necessary magisterial permission has to be taken," he added.
An Additional DCP rank-officer has been appointed as the inquiry officer, Reddy told PTI.
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee and Telugu Desam Party, meanwhile blamed the TRS government for the incident.
TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the TRS government had committed the grave mistake of handcuffing the farmers.

"It is highly shocking that the accused farmers were brought to the court handcuffed. Are they terrorists or extremists? What is the message the TRS government is trying to convey by handcuffing the poor farmers? Is it trying to say that anyone who holds protest against the TRS government will be considered a hardcore criminal?" he asked.
Terming it as an act of "high-handedness" of the state government, TDP legislator Sandra Venkata Veeraiah said the handcuffing of farmers was not justified.
He said his party will hold dharna (sit-in) for the next two days to protest against the cases filed against farmers.

On April 28, the farmers had brought chilli to the Khammam market yard hoping to sell the produce for a better price, which suddenly dipped below the expected level, triggering an agitation by farmers, the police had said.
According to the police, they had vandalised the market yard office and damaged the furniture.
The farmers in the state have been demanding better price for chilli as the price has dipped to around Rs 6,000 per quintal this season as against Rs 12,000 per quintal last year.
According to the Telangana marketing department, bumper production of chilli coupled with slackening exports has resulted in drop in the price.