Jagdalpur: A large group of villagers from Karlakha Gram Panchayat in Narayanpur district reached the district headquarters in tractors and submitted separate complaints concerning religious conversion activities and encroachment of land in their village.
The villagers, accompanied by the gram panchayat sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and other elected representatives, met District Collector Namrata Jain, Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Patel and the tehsildar and apprised them of their concerns. The villagers later returned to Karlakha after receiving assurances from the administrative and police authorities that their complaints would be examined in accordance with the law.
Villagers Raise Concern Over Prayer Meetings
The villagers first reached the Collector’s office and submitted a memorandum alleging that prayer meetings were being organised in Karlakha without permission from the gram panchayat. They claimed that the village falls under a Fifth Schedule area and that provisions relating to the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, or PESA, are applicable there.
According to the villagers, activities of this nature should be conducted with due regard to the applicable legal and local governance provisions. They urged the administration to examine whether the alleged meetings were being held in accordance with the law and the prescribed procedures.
In their memorandum, the villagers also levelled allegations against an individual, claiming that the person was associated with prayer meetings and activities that they described as being linked to religious conversion. They sought an inquiry into the allegations and appropriate action if any violation of law was established.
The villagers further appealed to the administration to intervene to ensure that peace and social harmony were maintained in the area.
Police Asked to Examine Conversion Allegations
After meeting the Collector, the villagers proceeded to the office of the Superintendent of Police and submitted a written complaint to SP Sandeep Kumar Patel.
The villagers sought an investigation into the allegations concerning the individual and the reported activities and requested action in accordance with the findings of the inquiry. They said the police authorities assured them of necessary cooperation and advised them to promptly report any such activities in the future.
According to the villagers, police officials also informed them that any complaint received would be examined on the basis of available facts and evidence and that appropriate legal action would be initiated wherever warranted.
Separate Complaint Over Six-Decimal Land
The villagers also submitted a separate memorandum concerning an alleged encroachment of approximately six decimals of land in Karlakha.
They claimed that the land-related issue had previously been brought to the notice of the administration but alleged that the expected action had not been taken so far. The villagers requested the authorities to examine the ownership and possession records and take appropriate action if illegal encroachment was established.
The Collector advised the villagers to approach the tehsildar with detailed information and relevant records concerning the land dispute.
Tehsildar Explains Legal Process
Subsequently, the villagers, along with the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, met the tehsildar and discussed the land-related matter.
The tehsildar informed them that the case was already under judicial consideration and that proceedings involving the concerned parties were underway. The villagers were told that the matter would be dealt with according to the prescribed legal procedure.
The tehsildar further assured them that if the inquiry and judicial proceedings establish that the land had been illegally encroached upon, necessary action for removal of the encroachment would be initiated in accordance with the law.
