Case against anti-graft crusader for drying undergarments at collectorate
MEERUT: In a case that has invited ire of different organisations, anti-corruption crusader Master Vijay Singh was evicted and booked on the charge of drying his undergarments on the premises of Muzaffarnagar district magistrate’s office. The case was filed by Sadar Nazir under Section 509 of the IPC in the Civil Line police station on September 18.
Singh, who had been sitting on a dharna against corruption and land mafias for the past 24 years, was evicted on September 18 on the directive of Muzaffarnagar DM Selva Kumari J.
However, the case was expunged on Saturday after his fellow protestor Krishanpal of Nirmana village in Muzaffarnagar gave a written affidavit to the police that the undergarments actually belonged to him. He tendered an apology in the affidavit and demanded to expunge the case against Singh.
“After examining the affidavit of Krishanpal, the case has been expunged,” said Samaypal Atri, station house officer (SHO) of Civil Line police station.
The action of district administration had drawn ire from Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU). Describing it dual face of the state government, BKU’s state spokesperson Dharmendra Malik said, “The state government on one hand makes tall claims for zero tolerance against corruption and land mafias, while on the other hand a school teacher, who has been peacefully protesting against land mafias and corruption, is being harassed by the government officials.
He said BKU head Rakesh Tikait, who is presently out of the town, had been apprised of the issue and a decision would be taken on it soon after he returns.
Singh’s protest has figured in various record books, including Guinness and the Limca Books of Records as the longest single protester, battling for recovery of 1600 acres of public land illegally occupied by land mafia in his native village Chausana, which is now in Shamli district, was carved out from Muzaffarnagar on September 28, 2011.
After his eviction, Singh has now shifted his dharna to Shiv
AFTER HIS EVICTION, SINGH HAS NOW SHIFTED HIS DHARNA TO SHIV CHOWK IN MUZAFFARNAGAR AND PLEDGED TO CONTINUE IT UNTIL ADMIN INITIATES ACTION AGAINST THE LAND MAFIAS.
Chowk in Muzaffarnagar and pledged to continue it until administration initiate action against the land mafias. Singh has been demanding action against land mafias and recovery of public land from them in his native village Chausana.
A dejected Singh said, “I have nothing personal in raising the issue and demanded that land should be distributed among the poor, the dalits, landless and unemployed persons.”
However, officials in Muzaffarnagar collectorate claimed that hearing over the issue was pending in the State’s Board of Revenue.
As the alleged land fell in Shamli district, hence Shamli DM would now brief the Revenue Board, they said. Singh faced both threats and allurements during his protest. Former PM V P Singh had assured him to solve the problem but, he unfortunately fell ill and died.