Clash averted over reserved land, Sangrur village tense
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, July 11
After peace prevailed for some days, tension resurfaced in Gharachon village when some members of the Dalit community tried to take possession of the reserved common land.
In the village, the community is divided into two groups. Demanding re-auction of the reserved land, one of the groups alleged that the Panchayat Department had allotted the land to ‘dummy’ bidders, planted by members of the upper caste.
“Ignoring the bid of 174 Dalit families, the Panchayat Department had on May 27 allotted 48 acres of the reserved land to the second group of five persons, who are working as ‘dummy’ candidate for the upper caste. Today, the ‘dummy’ bidders, with the help of upper caste members, tried to take the possession of the land, but our group opposed them,” alleged Mukesh Malaud, zonal president of the Zameen Prapati Sangharash committee (ZPSC).
When one group tried to take possession of the land, the other started raising slogans. Timely action by the police averted a clash.
“We have met senior officers many times for a re-auction, but no one paid heed to our demand. Now, the other group wants to take possession of the land forcibly. We have been sitting on an indefinite protest. We will not allow upper caste members to take the reserved land through dummy bidders,” said Bikkar Singh, another ZPSC leader.
Bhawanigarh SHO Ramandeep Singh said the situation was under control.
“We have deputed police personnel and informed the Panchayat Department,” the SHO said .
