A farmer has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in Andhra Pradesh. Reportedly, the farmer, Koteswara Rao, from Guntur was tortured to death by the Guntur police for refusing to give his land at Kodaveedu in Guntur district to make a temporary helipad for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. He was reportedly asked to fell his papaya crop to make way for the CM’s helipad. Koteswara reportedly had leased 14 acres of land.

Since then, Naidu has come under severe criticism from all quarters. BJP Andhra Pradesh took to Twitter to criticise Chandrababu Naidu. The official Twitter handle of BJP Andhra Pradesh tweeted, “What is the price for refusing to allow chopper landing of AP CM Chandrababu Naidu in AP? Death! Yes, a farmer was killed by Naidu govt. for refusing to allow his field for chopper landing. He was beaten by police which caused his death. Why do you hate farmers so much?”

What is the price for refusing to allow chopper landing of AP CM Chandra Babu Naidu in AP? Death! Yes, a farmer was killed by @ncbn Govt. for refusing to allow his field for chopper landing. He was beaten by police which caused his death .@ncbn, why you hate farmers so much ? — BJP ANDHRA PRADESH (@BJP4Andhra) February 19, 2019

BJP has also written to the Union Home Ministry seeking a probe into the matter. YSR Congress also took strong cognisance of the alleged torture and death of farmer Koteswara Rao and formed a 3 member fact-finding committee. After the YSR Congress fact-finding committee visited Guntur, however, check posts were set up by police allowing people to enter the village only after showing their ID.

Despite the pressure, the family has stuck to its stand that Koteswara was tortured to death by the police. The police have been denying all such allegations. An investigation was on after a case had been registered under Section 174 of IPC. The police had even circulated a couple of where they were urging people not to believe in rumours.