Hyderabad, May 17 -- An elderly couple protesting against the takeover of their land for the approach road to the upcoming Bhogapuram international airport in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district were forcibly lifted in an excavator bucket and moved aside, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday at Baireddypalem village in Bhogapuram mandal, where some farmers were protesting against the alleged forcible takeover for their land without payment of compensation.

A video showing the excavator operator lifting the couple - identified as Baireddy Appala Narasaiah and Gouthamma, both in their sixties - in the bucket for a few metres from the field where they were protesting and dropping them aside...