Assigned land grab allegations surface in Mokila

Metro India News | RANGAREDDY

Allegations of an attempt to encroach upon a high-value government assigned land in Mokila village of Shankarpally mandal have triggered controversy, with villagers accusing local political leaders of joining hands to take control of the property despite their public political rivalry.

The disputed land, measuring around 2.20 acres in Survey No. 31, is located adjacent to the upcoming 100-foot radial road connecting to the Regional Ring Road (RRR). With land prices in the area soaring, residents say the property is now worth several crores, making it a prime target for encroachment.

Villagers claim they have been demanding for years that the assigned land be reserved for public purposes and village development. The previous Gram Panchayat had reportedly passed a resolution seeking allocation of the land for community use and submitted representations to the District Collector, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), and Tahsildar. Fresh representations were also recently submitted to the authorities.

However, residents allege that a few local leaders from both the Congress and BJP have set aside political differences and are attempting to take possession of the land. They also claim that a "shadow sarpanch," who is said to wield significant influence in the village, is playing a key role in the alleged land grab.

According to villagers, tensions have escalated after some of the alleged encroachers refused to withdraw their claims and reportedly argued with residents who opposed the move. Questions are also being raised over the role of revenue officials.

Villagers suspect that the alleged encroachment attempts have been possible due to the inaction or tacit support of certain officials responsible for protecting government-assigned lands. Demanding immediate intervention, villagers urged senior district authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations, prevent any illegal occupation, and ensure that the land remains under government ownership for public use. Officials are yet to respond to the allegations.