MANVENDRA ACCUSES ARMY OF LAND ENCROACHMENT
BARMER: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Sheo constituency Manvendra Singh, along with a few locals, accused the army of encroaching on their land in Barmer on Sunday. Manvendra, son of former defence minister Jaswant Singh, is currently embroiled in a rift with the army over the ownership of about eight bigha land.
A local court had issued a stay order in this regard in 2012.
Kishan Singh, deputed as guard on the disputed land, said that a few army men had shooed him away from the area on Saturday night.
“They warned me to leave the area. On Sunday morning when I reached back at the spot, I found that the army had occupied the area by fencing it. The army has also created fresh set-up and installed equipments and some tanks” Kishan claimed.
Manvendra’s advocate, Dungar Singh Mahecha, claimed that the land was purchased by his client who had approached the court for a stay order after the army claimed ownership of the land in 2012. “The Divisional commissioner court had given a stay order on July 27, 2012. The army’s action is illegal and we will challenge it in the court”, said Mahecha. Defence spokesperson Col SD Goswami said, “Firstly, our troops are carrying out collective training in that general area. Secondly, the case is related to our defence land and is subjudice as I would not like to comment on it”.The police confirmed having received complaints but a case would be filed after collecting the facts, said a police official.
A GUARD ON THE DISPUTED LAND SAID THAT A FEW ARMY MEN HAD SHOOED HIM AWAY FROM THE AREA