Grievance panel meet sees chaos, protests

Vandalism and chaos, followed by slogan-raising, marred the functioning of the grievances committee, formed under Haryana Health Minister Kartar Devi, to redress a land dispute pending for the past couple of months. Residents of Dhani Mohabbatpur, which falls under the Adampur Assembly constituency, got angry over the delay in the solution of a dispute over panchayat land. The one-kanal land, which links the village to the adjoining village Darola, has allegedly been encroached upon by relatives of Bhattu Kalan MLA Kulbir Benewala.

The villagers, numbering around 100, raised slogans against the district administration for its failure in freeing the passage from the possession of encroachers even after directions were issued to this effect by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. They alleged that the administration was favouring the relatives of the MLA and was intentionally delaying the implementation of the Court8217;s orders.

The BDPO, Rajesh Koth, who was supposed to get the possession of land from the encroachers, said that standing crop on the land in question was stopping the authorities.Deputy Commissioner O P Sheoran8217;s assurance of getting the land free from encroachments too failed to pacify the agitating villagers following which, police force was deployed. The protesting villagers were then forcefully taken away by the police personnel. The whole drama continued for an hour.