Tribal members rally against land mafia’s encroachment of local land in a meeting held in Jaherthan, stating “We will give life, but not land.
SERAIKELA – A meeting was organized under the chairmanship of traditional Manjhi Baba Jadu Mardi, in Pudisili village of Tamulia Panchayat, in the Chandil sub-division area of Seraikela Kharsawan district.
The gathering, held at the Pudisili Club Bhavan premises, aimed to unify tribal voices against encroachments by the land mafia.
The sentiment was clear: “We will give life, but not land.
Armed with modern weapons, women from the Tribal Women’s Committee took part, raising their voices against the land mafia and the administration.
The land in question includes a traditional natural Sarhul Baha worship place, a Gauchar (grazing) land, and a public football ground.
Despite the Circle Officer’s office rejecting a previous land transfer case, illegal sale and purchase activities by the land mafia have resulted in the encroachment of these public areas.
These encroachments violate the constitution, displacing the traditional places of worship and public areas that have been a part of the community for centuries.
The meeting ended with a unanimous demand: The district administration must stop the illegal purchase and sale of these public areas, protect them from encroachment, and ensure their security.
The community wants to be able to carry out its activities smoothly, whether they be worship, football competitions, or simple grazing for their livestock.
The villagers said that if the administration does not act, they have resolved to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister.
They warned that lack of action will force them to take matters into their own hands and stage an intense protest.
The meeting saw attendance from several villagers including Jadu Mardi, Marang Soren, Nunuram Murmu, Baliram Mardi, Babu Ram Soren, and Sunaram Soren, among others.
