Farmer's Dramatic Protest: Axes Sandalwood Tree at Legislators' Home Over Highway Land Dispute
In a bold and unprecedented act of defiance, a farmer from Chikkamagaluru district traveled over 250 kilometers to Bengaluru and chopped down a sandalwood tree inside the Legislators' Home, a high-security zone, to protest the acquisition of his land for a national highway project. The incident, which left police and onlookers stunned, highlights growing tensions over land acquisition and compensation issues in Karnataka.
Background of the Land Acquisition Dispute
The farmer, TN Vishnukumar, who serves as the president of the Srigandha Rakshana Vedike, owns a sandalwood farm in Haliyur village, Tarikere. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) acquired 3.3 acres of his land to construct a bypass on NH-69, identifying 22 sandalwood trees for felling. Vishnukumar alleges that the compensation offered was unscientific and failed to reflect the true value of land used for sandalwood cultivation, a lucrative and traditional agricultural practice in the region.
Despite the matter being pending before the court, officials from NHAI and the forest department, under police protection, cleared the sandalwood trees on Monday to facilitate the highway work. This unilateral action, according to Vishnukumar, demonstrated official apathy and prompted his drastic protest.
The Dramatic Protest Unfolds in Bengaluru
Angered by the perceived injustice, Vishnukumar arrived at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, putting up banners and posters that declared the "obituary of sandalwood farmers in Karnataka." He then proceeded to the Legislators' Home, located within a special security zone, and axed a sandalwood tree planted near the Devaraj Urs Gate. Police officials at the scene were taken aback, with one officer noting, "This is the first time we have encountered such a situation. He resorted to this dramatic act to draw the authorities' attention to the problems he faced back home."
Following the incident, Vishnukumar was detained by police, who registered an FIR against him under various provisions of the Forest Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing mischief. The protest has sparked discussions about the methods used by farmers to voice their grievances in the face of large-scale infrastructure projects.
History of Extreme Protests by the Farmer
This is not the first time Vishnukumar has engaged in extreme forms of protest. In June 2025, he climbed a high-tension power transmission tower as part of his agitation against land acquisition, showcasing a pattern of desperate measures to highlight his plight. His actions underscore the broader challenges faced by farmers in Karnataka, where land acquisition for development projects often clashes with agricultural livelihoods and traditional practices like sandalwood farming.
The incident raises critical questions about compensation mechanisms, legal recourse, and the balance between infrastructure development and farmer rights. As authorities investigate the case, it serves as a stark reminder of the human costs behind highway expansions and the need for more empathetic and equitable policies in land acquisition processes.
