Protests erupted in Agali on Tuesday as workers of both the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstrations in front of the mini civil station, demanding action against revenue officials following the death of a farmer who reportedly died by suicide. The 53-year-old farmer, identified as Krishnaswamy from Kavundikkal in Attappadi, was found hanging from a tree on his farmland on Monday.
According to the protesters, Krishnaswamy had been struggling for months to obtain a thandaper number, an official land record identification, from the local revenue office. Despite several visits, his repeated pleas allegedly went unanswered, delaying his ability to secure ownership documentation and access government benefits. The protesters alleged that bureaucratic negligence and procedural delays pushed the farmer into despair, ultimately leading to his death.
Congress and BJP workers held separate protests but voiced similar demands, calling for a judicial inquiry and immediate suspension of the responsible officials. They also sought compensation for the victim’s family and urged the state government to take urgent steps to prevent such tragedies in the future. Leaders from both parties criticised the state administration for failing to address the long-pending grievances of farmers in tribal and hilly regions like Attappadi.
Local Congress leaders accused the Left-led government of “criminal negligence,” claiming that several farmers in the region have been facing similar administrative hurdles. BJP leaders echoed this sentiment, stating that the incident reflected a larger pattern of insensitivity and inefficiency in the revenue department.
The farmer’s death has triggered widespread outrage across Palakkad district, with civil society groups also joining in to demand accountability. They emphasised that land ownership documentation is a basic necessity for farmers, without which they remain vulnerable to economic and emotional distress.
As protests continued, local authorities promised a detailed investigation into the incident. District officials have sought a report from the Agali village office, and the police have begun an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Krishnaswamy’s death.
The tragedy has once again brought the plight of small and marginal farmers to the forefront, highlighting how administrative delays and systemic apathy can have devastating human consequences.
