With the name of a former IAS officer cropping up in the land dispute that led to massacre of 11 tribals in Sonebhadra on Wednesday, tension prevailed in the area as the kin of the victims insisted on taking the bodies to their native villages for performing the last rites.
Sensing trouble, the district administration refused to give in. The administration has arrested two dozen persons, including Murthiya village’s gram pradhan Yagya Dutt, who were involved in Wednesday’s shooting.
Sources said that an IAS officer of Bihar, identified as Prabhat Kumar Mishra, had managed to get 600 bighas of land in Ghorawal area of Sonebhadra transferred in the name of Adharsh Cooperative Society with the help of revenue officers in 1955. The area then came under Mirzapur district. The registration of the society expired in 1978.
Sources said that the officer later transferred 100 bighas each to his wife and daughter on September 6, 1989 but failed to get their names registered in tehsil records. In the meantime, members of Gond tribe continued to hold the land, though they confirmed of giving some money to Dheeraj, also from Bihar.
The sources further said that after failing to get possession of the land, the IAS officer’s kin sold the land to gram pradhan Yagya Dutt about two years back.
Confirming that the name of the former IAS officer had surfaced during investigation DGP OP Singh said that if necessary, criminal proceedings may be initiated against him.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police of Sonebhadra, ST Patil, confirmed that 24 persons were arrested and efforts were underway on to nab the others.
The police have arrested Yagya Dutt and his nephews Girijesh and Vimlesh. An FIR was lodged against 61 people, including 11 named persons, on Wednesday.
The autopsy of the victims was conducted on Wednesday night. But assessing law and order problem, the administration refused to hand over the bodies to the family members and insisted on cremation under police protection.
However, the family members staged a demonstration and demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh each and 10 bighas of land.
The Chief Minister has directed the DGP to personally monitor the case and ensure action against the assailants. Besides, Commissioner of Mirzapur Division and ADG (Varanasi zone) have been directed to jointly probe the cause of the clash and fix responsibility.
Meanwhile Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar `Lallu’ visited the victims’ families and the injured in Sonebhadra. Attacking the government over deteriorating law and order condition, the CLP leader demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each for the families of the deceased and threatened to take up the issue in legislature.
