In a state with large number of landless people and very low indices of literacy, health, or gender equality, it is noteworthy that large scale land grabbing by the local land mafia has gone virtually unchallenged by the state government. Magsasay Award winner, Sandeep Pandey, describes the situation.

One would think that the state government of Uttar Pradesh recognizes the relationship between large landless peasant population and human indices such as literacy, health or access to livelihoods.

One would think that the state government recognizes that the landless peasants are most vulnerable to exploitation. It was this understanding, after all, that drove Vinoba Bhave’s Land Donation movement.

One would like to believe that a government led by a leader of the backward classes would perhaps be more tuned in to the fact that the backward classes and schedule castes form a large section of the landless population in the state.

And yet, the government has done nothing to challenge the grabbing of over 10000 hectares of land in Lakhimpur Khiri district by the local land mafia. In fact, it has actively prosecuted groups resisting the land grab.

In one case, 104 acres was given to 52 Dalit and Muslim landless families in 1957 after Zamindari Abolition Act on a 9 year lease. During this allotment, the landlords who owned the land at that time, illegally sold the land to Deedar Singh. Thus, there arose a dispute between the landless families and Deedar Singh.

In the interim, Deedar Singh was declared deceased and the land has been taken over by Kulwant Singh, who claimed to be his successor.

It is a small matter that Deedar Singh is alive and while protesting the high-handedness of the bureaucracy in handling this case was arrested on 4th Feb, 2005.

On 15/10/2002 9 Dalit and Muslim landless women were beaten up when they protested forcible harvesting of their crops by Kulwant Singh and his associates. No action taken against on FIR lodged against Kulwant Singh.

On 26/10/2002 the illegal transfer of the land to Kulwant Singh was cancelled.

On 28/6/2004 Kulwant Singh and associates injured 6 landless labourers by firing on them. No action taken on FIR lodged against Kulwant Singh. A false FIR was lodged by Kulwant Singh against Kranti K. Singh, State Committee member of CPI(ML)who is part of a group opposing the land grab and 40 others. In addition, Gangster Act was imposed on Kranti and Ram Daras, leaders of CPI(ML).

On 6/8/2004 FIR was lodged against Avtar Singh, another land mafia, who had forcibly sterilized 5 landless labourers in order to get a license for firearm.

Meanwhile, 16 government officers including 6 sebior District Magistrates have been suspended as part of investigations into a Public Distribution System Scam worth over $2 million. It is not a coincidence that this scam was centered around Lakhimpur Khiri district. In this inquiry it was found that the food grains was not distributed in villages for many months though the district supply officer always certified that food grains was being distributed in the villages. The inquiry report said that the total staff of Lakhimpur district worked in organised manner and the food grains costing about Rs. 09 crore was disappeared.

On 18th January, 2005 there was a demonstration in Palia against the land mafia and its role in the food scam. Demonstrators demanded a CBI inquiry. However, police tried to disperse this demonstration and demonstrators were threatened with action vis-à-vis National Security Act laws.

On 4th February, 2005 there was a demonstration demanding inquiry of the dealings of the land mafia. Ajanta Lohit, Allauddin Shashtri and 84 others were arrested from the demonstration site. On 8th February 73 people were released but Ajanta and 10 others still continue to languish in jail on false charges.

Samiuddin 'Nilu', a journalist for the local daily “Amar Ujala” who was reporting on this story was arrested on 9th February, 2005 under false charges of smuggling under Wildlife Act.

Local journalists and groups resisting land grab began a series of demonstrations that has resulted in the release of all those who were arrested. However, Kranti Singh has been threatened with an ‘encounter’ by the Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur Khiri.

It is ironic that the state government and its bureaucracy continues to target those opposing the land grab even as those involved in millions of dollars worth corruption continue to be free and exploitation by the land mafia continues unabated.

Mr. Alok Sinha, the Home Secretary of UP State Government is directly responsible for the omissions and commissions of the police and the bureaucracy. It is possible that writing faxes to him or calling him up might help expedite the process of justice. His phone number is 0522-2238291 and 2239279 and his fax number is 0522-2238409.

Related Articles:
There Live Enslaved Children
Tell Them They Need to Leave
Protesting the Patents Amendments Bill
20 Years After Bhopal: The Struggle Goes On