People's Democracy

Moneylenders Snatch Refugees' Lands

AIKS & AIAWU Demand Inquiry

THE All India Kisan Sabha and All India Agricultural Workers Union have condemned the brutal and unprovoked attack on East Bengal refugees, whose lands have been seized by money-lenders at Shakti farm near Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal on April 15, 2006.

In a statement issued in New Delhi, the organisations termed the attack as shameful because the homes of innocent people were ransacked at the instance of moneylenders and many were beaten up, some of them sustaining serious injuries. Instead of restoring the illegally occupied land to the original title-holders, the administration was attempting to declare the land vested in the state and to cancel the titles of the Bengal refugees, who have been granted them for over three decades.

The AIKS and the AIAWU have demanded a high level inquiry into the attack of April 15 and the restoration of some 500 acres of land to the original patta holders. They also demanded that the false cases instituted against the refugee landholders be withdrawn forthwith, while cases based on complaints against goons of the moneylenders be instituted. Also, those hospitalised must be paid Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 compensation per person according to the seriousness of their injuries.

The AIKS and the AIAWU asserted that the state government’s attempt to disposess the refugees of their land will not be countenanced and that they will determinedly push forward the struggle until our just demands are met. (INN)