Dalits face ‘boycott’ in Punjab village over land dispute, panel member to visit today

Sangrur: Punjab Scheduled Caste Commission member Dilip Singh Pandhi will visit Namol village in Sangrur district — where trouble is brewing between Dalits and other villagers — on Monday. Two days ago, land owners in the village had allegedly announced that anyone who hires Dalits to work in their fields would be fined Rs 10,000. Following the announcement on a loudspeaker, the district administration was put on alert.

The bone of contention is a 6.5 acre land in the village, which is reserved for Dalits. Sanjeev Kumar Mintu, president of Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, said, “The land owners want the land to be auctioned according to their will, and they want to present some dummy Dalits for the purpose. The actual users will be the land owners. So they have played this game of boycott. Already one auction has been cancelled because of the controversy.”

The boycott was called off by the land owners after a meeting Saturday, sources said. Block development officer Charanjit Singh Walia had intervened and assured justice for Dalits.

Similar case was reported in Baupar village, where Dalits faced boycott over the auction of land meant for them. Baladkalan village also witnessed similar controversy over 117 acres of land. There was no boycott there, but a clash took place on the day of auction on June 27.

The Zamin Prapati Sangrash Committee wants the land to be given to them after the paddy season. They have decided to pay 40 per cent of the total amount on which the land is auctioned. No decision has been taken yet.

Source: Journalism of Courage Nation