The government is claiming to crack down on rampant land grabbing mafias in Gujarat, but the reality on the ground is very different. Several villages in Gujarat’s Kheda district are entwined in a complex land scam where not only bogus documents were used, but the power of attorney too was faked. The villagers had submitted an application to the Mamlatdar and the district police to take legal action against the perpetrators.
Out of the 900 bighas of land in Dada’s Muwada, Phagwel, Porda and Virana villages of Kheda district, at least 600 bighas were illegally registered on the basis of online and offline documents and false sale of land agreements. These include lands with survey numbers 1651,1653,1662,1663,1664,16651667,1668,1669,1670,1672,1673,1675,1676 and 1677.
RB Sodha, the Sarpanch of Dada’s Muwada village, says that the independent panchayat of Dada’s Muwada village came into existence in 1985. Before that, the village was under the Lasundra panchayat. Despite becoming an independent panchayat, the revenue record of the land of the affected farmers and counties are still under Lasundra gram panchayat.
The farmers were shocked when they heard strange names instead of their own in the land records of some farmers and enumerators. They have since demanded that a case be registered against the defrauders and have also threatened an agitation if proper action was not taken.
What farmers have demanded?
Naming a few of the alleged perpetrators, the farmers, enumerators and villagers have demanded that land brokers Balusinh Shanabhaisodha (Rahe, Kaparupur), Ilias (Rahe, Pithai) and Kanu Rabari (Lasundra Maji Talati) be charged for the crime, the fraudulent documents are cancelled, and all those involved be booked.
Parents and enumerators have also made mistakes
About 200 years ago, Sayajirao rewarded the Parkars with land, which led to the settlement of the village by the Parkars. The Parkars gave their lands to the people for cultivation. The shocking thing was that neither the enumerators nor the farmers added their names to the land records. At present, the farmers have legal possession of the land.
In this regard, Kheda district SP Arpita Patel promised appropriate action against erring parties. “The case will be reported by the district collector’s office or the mamlatdar’s office if the evidence is given,” she said.
