Sarpanch leads protest against encroachments

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 5

Alleging lack of action by the Panchayat Department officers against land encroachers in his village, Dhandiwal’s Dalit sarpanch Kulwant Singh and other villagers have started an indefinite protest in front of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Sherpur. Some other organisations, including the MGNREGA union and the SC wing of SAD, have also announced support for the sarpanch.

“I had started a campaign in 2015 to remove encroachments from the village common land, but some upper caste residents with political connections have been creating problems for me since the launch of the campaign,” alleged sarpanch Kulwant Singh.

He alleged that upper caste people were harassing him and not allowing him to work for the development of the village.

“He is not fighting his personal fight, but working for the development of the village. We are supporting the sarpanch and would join him in his protest tomorrow,” said Malkiat Changal, president of Sangrur district’s SC wing of SAD.

Sherpur BDPO Tarsem Singh said they were trying to solve the issue at the earliest.