Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 22: A protest was organized in front of the office of the district deputy commissioner here on Monday November 21, against alleged conspiracy by some people to swindle land earmarked for scheduled communities opposite MGM College here. The protestors demanded immediate intervention of the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, who happens to be the president of DCM Trust, which owns the land, to foil the efforts of the conspirators.

The protestors said that the said land, measuring 7.88 acres and worth several crores of rupees, had been donated by Kudmul Ranga Rao for the welfare of the dalits. The land stands in the name of DCM Trust Dakshina Kannada district, of which deputy commissioner of that district is the president. Dakshina Kannada district social welfare officer is the secretary of the trust, while MLAs from Mangalore and Udupi assembly constituencies are its members.

They added that over 40 families are living in the land in question since long, and that it has come to their notice that some persons have been trying to influence the officials of Land Tribunal by creating fake records, to usurp the land. They also alleged that the conspirators have also been trying to blackmail the members of the Land Tribunal, and threatening them with registration of fake complaints. They demanded action against the concerned under Prevention of Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes and Tribes Act.

They urged the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner to arrange to affectively argue the case in Land Tribunal, Kundapur, to ensure that the final outcome comes in favour of the government. They also demanded issuance of title deeds in the name of families, which have been living in this land since 1916.

DCM Colony residents, president of local Bhajana Mandal, Shekhar, and its members, Sudhakar, Bhaskar and Ranga, who represented Kudmul Ranga Rao Seva Trust, were among those present.