Village Development Committees in Telangana’s Adilabad and Nirmal districts are facing police scrutiny for allegedly permitting illegal sand mining, unlicensed liquor outlets and social boycotts, with cases registered against 47 VDC members in Adilabad subdivision this year, according to Deccan Chronicle.
Adilabad Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan has warned that VDCs should not support activities that violate the law. He asked committee members to cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order and to work for the welfare of villagers.
The police have registered cases in 13 instances in Adilabad subdivision this year and arrested some VDC members, the report said. The cases relate to allegations that members gave unofficial permission for illegal sand transportation and for the operation of belt shops and unlicensed toddy shops in villages.
Belt shops are unauthorised liquor outlets. According to the report, VDCs are allegedly enabling such outlets by allowing them to operate without licences. The police view the practice as indirect support for illegal liquor sales and have warned that committees and individual members could face stern action if they assist law violators.
The allegations also raise concerns about the effect of unauthorised sand extraction on local water systems. The report said VDCs were allegedly permitting sand mining from streams and rivulets without considering the impact on water recharge and the storage capacity of water bodies. Rampant extraction was linked in the report to drinking-water problems for livestock and villagers.
The issue extends beyond illegal economic activity. Complaints received by authorities allege that some VDCs in Adilabad and Nirmal districts have imposed social boycotts on lower-level communities, including washermen, fishermen, Dalits and toddy tappers, over what were described as minor disputes. Some committees have also been accused of taking extreme decisions to demonstrate upper-caste dominance within village social structures, with some upper Other Backward Class communities also involved in the reported caste hierarchy.
Mahajan said VDCs should bring village-level problems to the notice of the police and resolve disputes within the framework of the law. The police have stated that action will be taken against VDCs and their members if they support people involved in unlawful activities, grant unofficial permission for illegal operations or participate in such activities directly or indirectly.
The allegations place village-level committees at the centre of a wider law-and-order and resource-management issue. While VDCs are expected to support local welfare and community coordination, the police warning makes clear that they cannot authorise activities that require legal approval or replace the authority of government agencies. Further police action will determine how the cases progress and whether additional VDC members are found to be involved.
