Now land mafias make Silchar their target

From Our Special Correspondent

Silchar, Aug 23: With the fast changing time, the town of Silchar is witnessing rapid expansion. With that, the prices of land are escalating and this has created immense opportunity for the land mafias. Kathal Road, Chandrapur, Budhurail, Rengti, Boaljurmukh, Merhua and Jaffarpur located on the outskirts have become the area of operation of these dark elements. By flexing of muscles and poking holes in the legal provisions, land grabbers have created their own empire. Their operation culmites in selling the lands grabbed at higher prices. Many families have lost their landed properties after falling in their grip.

At a public meeting called by Grahak Suraksha Samiti (GSS) at Rengti Radhamadhab temple last Saturday and attended by the citizens concerned, this critical and crucial issue came up for discussion. According to the submission of Biplob Kumar Goswami, general secretary of GSS, a larger portion of Rengti primary health centre (PHC) land have gone into the illegal possession of a person for a long time. The land in question was doted by some generous persons of the village in the hope that a well equipped PHC will come up in the larger interests of common people. Their high dream seems to crash

The land grabber in this case has reportedly threatened the owner of the plot with dire consequences if he dared to speak out. GSS general secretary feels if it be so, the land grabber should immediately be arrested and put behind the bar and the land grabbed by him has to be reclaimed. GSS is ready to extend all possible help and cooperation to any person who will take the responsibility of filling a public interest litigation (PIL) at Gauhati High Court. Goswami asserted the grabbed land has to be taken back.

 It is relevant to mention that major part of the land at Rengti are ajmali patta. Taking advantage of it, the land grabbers are able to get power of attorney on behalf of a family member by hook or by crook. After that, their henchmen are forcibly taking over the land. The process of land grabbing has reached a stage where families after families are being pushed to a future of penury and uncertainty. According to Goswami, political leaders are also involved in this racket. GSS has enough evidences of it which will be brought forth if required.

There will be no ground to grudge if the land is sold and purchased strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations and through legal process. The Samiti has called upon all the people of the area to come forward and unite against the fraudulent methods of operation of the land grabbers. Satyajit Das, president of the GSS Rengti unit, said, “Enough is enough. It is high time to unite and fight against those involved in illegal operations.” Das hoped with the cooperation of all, the masks of these elements would be exposed before the general public.

 Everyone has to follow legal course of action and not the method of bullying and bulldozing. He expressed his gratefulness to GSS for organizing the meeting in their village. Others who came forward to express their concern and offered suggestions for meeting the challenge included lini Kanta Das, Prabal Dutta and Niranjan Das. At the conclusion of the meeting, a development committee was formed with Dr. Dipankar rayan as president. The committee would find out ways and means to adopt legal measures with the involvement of all in order to end the mece of land sharks.