An indefinite protest began outside the Mini Vidhana Soudha in T. Narasipura on Wednesday over alleged official inaction on the encroachment of four guntas of government land and alleged irregular property records issued by municipal authorities. Leaders of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti’s Bhimavada division demanded action against the tahsildar and a criminal case against officials accused of creating an unauthorised khata.
The disputed land is located in Old Santhemala in Algoodu under Kasaba Hobli of the Varuna Assembly constituency. According to the protesters, Survey No. 76 originally contained 19 guntas of government grove land. Fifteen guntas were handed over to the taluk panchayat executive officer under a shelter scheme to rehabilitate nine tribal families living in the flood-submergence area of Survey No. 1 in Thirumakudalu village.
The protesters said title deeds were issued to the nine families under a housing scheme in 1997. They alleged that the remaining four guntas of government land were subsequently occupied by an individual, who was constructing an unauthorised building on the site.
The organisation’s state divisional convener, Chalavadi S. Chandrashekhar, said farmers had complained about the alleged encroachment to the deputy commissioner, sub-divisional officer and tahsildar, but no action had been taken. The protesters also alleged that the deputy commissioner had written to the sub-divisional officer directing action in the matter, after which the sub-divisional officer instructed the tahsildar to proceed.
The protesters claimed that the tahsildar failed to act on those directions and demanded disciplinary action, including suspension, under the provisions dealing with land encroachment. They also alleged that municipal officials had permitted an illegal khata for agricultural land and called for a comprehensive inquiry and criminal proceedings against the municipal chief officer or officers responsible.
The demands extend beyond recovery of the disputed parcel. The organisation has sought immediate government seizure of the four guntas, criminal action against the person accused of occupying the land and verification of whether the original nine tribal families continue to reside on the plots allotted to them in 1997. It also demanded cancellation of title deeds it described as fraudulently altered or fabricated.
The dispute highlights the administrative chain involved in protecting public land: revenue officials are responsible for land records and encroachment action, while municipal authorities handle property-related records within their jurisdiction. The allegations reported by the protesters concern both levels of administration, although the report does not record a response from the tahsildar, sub-divisional administration or municipal authorities.
The indefinite sit-in is being led by the organisation’s local and district representatives, including K. Rajanna, R. Raju, Mariswamy, Manoj Kumar and other members. The protesters have said the demonstration will continue until action is taken on the alleged encroachment, the disputed records and the responsibility of the officials concerned.
