A lower middle class settlement in Kangan Ghat situated in Sabalpur on the banks of the Ganga in Patna city was forcibly razed by dozens of bulldozers on after the 'malikana' land was declared government land.
Bulldozer Attack on the Poor of Kanganghat will not be Tolerated: Mahboob Alam
The CPIML team reached Kanganghat in Patna City on 22 May and enquired into the facts of the eviction of the poor. The team comprised legislative party leader Mahboob Alam, Phulwari MLA Gopal Ravidas, Patna City Secretary Abhyuday and local leaders Naseem Ansari, Rajnarayan Singh and Uma Ji.
Mahboob Alam said that the BJP-JDU bulldozer is standing against the poor but this will not be accepted at any cost. The Sambalpur Thana No. 169/170 land which has been razed down by bulldozers belongs fully to the residents there. All the people have possession papers, 'dakhal-kharij' has been done, and receipts have also been issued. What is more, the names have also been entered in Register 2. Under these circumstances, on what basis can the government demolish their houses?
Few years ago the government had acquired land in Thana No. 110 for a crematorium. The local residents were paid compensation, which means that the government recognized and acknowledged their 'malikana' (proprietary) rights to the land. Now suddenly why is the government refusing to recognize the 'malikana' rights?
The CPIML leaders said that the administration's attitude and action are totally wrong. If they thought it was an encroachment they should have gone for legal procedure, but this sudden demolition shows clearly that the ruling powers in the state care neither for the poor, nor for the Constitution or the law.
After the CPIML leaders' intervention the bulldozers have retreated for the time being. The ML leaders spoke with the Commissioner and DM and apprised them of the real situation. The administration has given an ultimatum of 25 May. There is great anger among the people against this. The enraged people marched from Kanganghat to Patna City Chowk where they blocked the road for hours. A mass movement has been declared for 25 May.
