RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept.1: Amid the BJP’s allegation of UPA government being ‘anti-schedule caste (SC)’, the district administration today continued verifying the nature of land at Murumatu village of Pandu block in Palamu district from where a case of forceful displacement of Mushar families had come to light.
Though Deputy Commissioner A.Dodde told lagatar 24.com that ‘primarily it appears that the land belongs to Muslim community,’ locals having idea of nature of land did not support the deputy commissioner saying the ‘land on and around hillocks used to be Gair Mazarua in nature and those displaced were residing there for last five generations.’
Pandu Circle officer Rahul Oraon refused to comment on the matter saying the ‘nature of land is still under verification. On which, a local resident said ‘a high-level probe is required into the matter as those who are expert in grabbing land know well how to manipulate documents with the connivance of the circle office and genuine land owners hardly know how to keep their land record properly.’
An FIR was registered against as many as 12 named and more than 150 in the case. By yesterday the police had arrested three persons. Apart from this, Section 144 on the disputed land was also enforced.
However, when contacted superintendent of police of the district Chandan Kumar Sinha for his comment on the latest development in the matter he did not take the calls given three times in between 5.34pm to 5.57pm.
Local parliamentarian and former DGP of Jharkhand V.D.Ram could not be contacted for his comment. A man receiving his call at 1.45pm said that the MP was busy in a meeting and would be free to talk after half an hour. Later, no one took the call given on 2.39pm and 6.08pm.
Meanwhile, State BJP president Deepak Prakash is scheduled to visit Palamu to take stock of the situation tomorrow.