Seven Dalit leaders booked for occupying panchayat land

MUKTSAR:Police on Friday booked seven Dalit leaders for occupying panchayat land at Maur, Balamgarh and Chakk Madrassa villages in Muktsar district.

The case was registered at Lakhewali police station on the complaint of additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Sukhmeet Singh Sran, but the accused are yet to be arrested.

The Dalit leaders had occupied the panchayat land in these villages recently as a mark of protest against the alleged delay in allotment of 5-marla plots to homeless Dalits. The protest was launched under the banner of Dehati Majdoor Sabha.

Later, a meeting was held between union leaders and panchayat officials. The officials asked the people to release the land and submit applications for the plots. However, Dalit leaders refused to give up the possession of land.

Jagjeet Singh Jasseana, press secretary, Dehati Majdoor Sabha, said, “The government promised plots to homeless Dalits. In the notification, the government has instructed the district authorities to provide plots to Dalits but nothing has been done so far. We have captured the panchayat land in theses villages. We will intensify our struggle if we don’t get plots soon.”

District development and panchayat officer (DDPO) Arun Jindal, said, “Panchayats of Maur, Chak Madrassa and Balmagrash villages have passed resolutions to give plots to Dalit families. We have received 84 applications in Maur, 141 in Chak Madrassa and 155 in Balamgarh.”