Police foil land grab attempt by communist activists in Orissa

Rayagada (Orissa), Aug 6 (ANI): Police foiled an attempt of the activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist Liberation) to grab 24 acres of agricultural land in Bisamkatak block of Orissa's Rayagada district.

Reportedly, over 50 persons, almost all tribals, under the banner of CPI-MLL took over the land forcibly and even started cultivating it, which they claimed to be surplus land as per the Land Ceiling Act.

The tribals claimed that the land had no owner and they had been requesting the government to give them the land for cultivation.

"This land has no owner. We are poor and requested the government, but no body listened to us. So, we are forced to acquire this and we are cultivating this," said Trimba Jani, a tribal.

" For the past 60 years, we have been requesting to the government to distribute these 24 acres land among the people but government does not listen to us. So we, under the banner of CPI-ML (Liberation), came here and acquired the land," said Tripati Gamang, Rayagada District Secretary of the CPI-MLL.

Meanwhile, the Tehsildar (Block Development Officer) of Bisamkatak said the administration tried to pacify the tribals when they became hostile and finally, the police had to be summoned to control the situation.

"CPI-ML (Liberation) members came and forcefully entered the land and started cultivating it. We tried to make them understand but they didn't listen. It is yet to be confirmed whether it is surplus land. We will examine and if it is found to be so, we will distribute it," said K Ashok Kumar, Tehsildar (Block Development Officer), Bisamkatak. (ANI)