Chennai -- A group of farmers and activists have protested the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) rice in a Tamil Nadu village.

Led by the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association (TNFA) and the Tamil Nadu Velalan Kappu Kuzhu, the protestors invaded a field where trials for GM rice were under way and destroyed the crop Friday.

The 200-strong group carried banners saying, "bio-hazard", and put them up all around the trial area.

Mahyco-Monsanto, a seed company, had taken on lease a 20-acre piece of land belonging to Rangaraju, a farmer in Ramanathapuram village in Coimbatore district, about 600 km from here.

Greenpeace activists, who were part of the group, said the company was carrying out BT rice trial "without telling the farmer that it was genetically modified".

The farmer has now filed an FIR and had alleged that he was not told his land was being leased for cultivating BT rice.

The BT rice being sown in Tamil Nadu is a variety of Bacillus Thuringiensis, according to activists.

TNFA Chairperson K. Chellamuthu told journalists: "The company will not be allowed to step into this state."

He also warned of similar protests in other trial sites in the state.

Tamil Nadu Green Movement President Jeevanandham alleged that as many as 37 people have died and 1,500 people have been crippled in India after consuming GM crops.

The protestors demanded that the district collector, in charge of the monitoring committee for GM crops, take action against the company.

Mahyco-Monsanto is headed by scientist Raju Barwale, hailed for his pioneering work in non-GM seed development, which is mired in controversy over field trials of BT Cotton.

The company's GM rice seeds have been approved by India's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee and 1,500 acres in Tamil Nadu are earmarked for test cultivation.