**Hyderabad, November 13, 2024** – Tensions ran high in Lagicherla village of the Kodangal constituency as police detained 55 people, including 28 farmers, following an alleged attack on Vikarabad District Collector Prateek Jain and other officials on Monday. The arrests were part of a late-night police operation that deployed around 300 personnel to conduct door-to-door searches in the village, cutting off electricity and detaining suspects.The police crackdown also extended to nearby areas, including Dudyala, Kodangal, and Bonraspet mandals, where internet services were abruptly suspended. Reporters on-site were prevented from documenting the events, with police reportedly confiscating cameras and requiring journalists to delete photos before leaving.The BRS party strongly condemned the police action and called for the immediate release of the detained farmers. BRS Working President KT Rama Rao criticized the Congress-led state government, alleging intimidation tactics aimed at silencing farmers’ voices against land acquisition for a planned pharmaceutical project. “Arrests will not stop Lagicherla’s struggle. Farmers cannot be silenced by threats,” Rama Rao declared, questioning if the night-time operation was an act of democracy or authoritarianism. “Why are farmers being treated like terrorists simply for opposing a land grab meant to benefit the Chief Minister’s relatives?” he asked.Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao also voiced his anger, condemning the deployment of hundreds of police officers to detain farmers defending their livelihoods. “These are not criminals; they are farmers trying to protect their land. This heavy-handed response must stop immediately,” he demanded.The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with opposition leaders and activists accusing the Congress government of prioritizing corporate interests over farmers’ welfare. BRS leaders, led by Harish Rao, plan to visit Lagicherla later today to show support for the affected villagers and seek their release.