Odisha Land Jihad Case : Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari hints at action, seeks report from District Magistrate

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has indicated that it will take action regarding the illegal occupation of approximately 100 acres of land in the Motu area of Malkangiri district. State Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari announced that a report will be sought from the District Magistrate to investigate the situation further. Upon receiving the report, the government will take the necessary steps to address the issue.

“I will speak with the District Magistrate of Malkangiri district regarding this issue and seek a report. Once the Revenue Department’s land is reclaimed from illegal encroachment, we will provide 4 decimals of land to those who are landless from that freed land,” said Suresh Pujari in response to a related question.

New revelations have emerged regarding Mohammad Masoom Khan, who faces allegations of illegally acquiring government land during the BJD regime, highlighting the benefits he has received from various government schemes. Under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme, two roads have been constructed for Islamnagar.

Additionally, the state’s Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department provided subsidies for the excavation of two ponds in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Masoom Khan’s father, Ismail Khan, received Rs 3,74,000, while Masoom Khan himself was given Rs 5,44,000 by the department. Furthermore, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana funded the excavation of a fish pond for Rs 17 lakh in the 2020-21 financial year, with the government providing a subsidy of Rs 6,80,000 to Masoom Khan’s brother. In addition to these benefits, two large transformers have also been installed in Islamnagar.

The Forest Department previously requested a report on this issue. Priyanka Mahuka, the Assistant Conservator of Forests in Malkangiri district, instructed the local ranger to conduct an investigation and submit a report. She stated that further action would be determined based on the findings of the local ranger’s investigation.

It is worth noting that a shocking incident has recently emerged in the Malkangiri district of Odisha, where approximately 100 acres of forest land in the Motu area are allegedly being encroached upon. This encroached land is now home to Islam Nagar, raising suspicions of complicity among local authorities. The incident occurred during the tenure of the previous BJD government. Islam Nagar has been illegally established on forest land just 2-3 km from National Highway 326, surrounded by dense forests along the Saberi riverbank.

The name Mohammad Masoom Khan has surfaced in connection with this illegal occupation of approximately 100 acres of land, where he has reportedly constructed Islam Nagar. It is alleged that Khan has built a substantial empire unlawfully, purportedly with the protection and encouragement of the then BJD government.