Sangrur, July 12: Under the banner of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC), Dalit families from Kapial, Balial and Kakra villages protested in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office here on Thursday.
They were demanding reserved land from the village common land in Kapial and Balial villages on lesser rates than last year and cancellation of auction of Kakra village land.
“Despite passing of resolutions by panchayats, the administration has not reduced the annual lease rate of the reserved land from the village common land in Balial and Kapial villages. In Kakra village, the reserved land was given to upper caste landlords by showing dummy Dalit candidates,” alleged Manpreet Bhattiwal, district committee member of the ZPSC.
The protesters alleged that the police had registered false FIRs against Dalits of Kakra village when they protested against the dummy auction of reserved land in their village. They also alleged that upper caste landlords were threatening Dalits with dire consequences if they did not stop protests.
“We will intensify our agitation if the administration fails to fulfill our demands,” said Bhattiwal.
The ZPSC members also met Sangrur DSP Satpal Sharma and demanded cancellation of false FIRs registered against Dalits.
The DSP said since Kakra village fell under Bhawanigarh DSP, he had asked ZPSC members to approach the DSP concerned.
Source Tribune India
