BIRSANAGAR LAND MAFIA: QUESTIONS RAISED OVER CO ROLE: DEVANAND SINGH

BIRSANAGAR LAND MAFIA: QUESTIONS RAISED OVER CO ROLE: DEVANAND SINGH

16-MARCH-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------The issue of the land mafia has once again become a topic of intense discussion in the city. 'Rashtra Samvad' has intensified its investigation into this entire episode and has raised several serious questions regarding land-related matters in the Birsanagar area. It is reported that this issue had been put on hold for some time due to the district and police administrations' preoccupation with election duties; however, it is now being brought to the forefront once again.

The report alleges that an alleged "cocktail"—comprising the land mafia, certain officials, and political patronage—is active in the Birsanagar area, facilitating the illegal buying, selling, and fencing of land. There is also considerable speculation regarding the role played by Jamshedpur's Circle Officer (CO), Manoj Kumar, in this entire affair, with numerous questions being raised about his involvement.

Locals state that despite written complaints being submitted to the CO, no concrete action has been taken thus far, even as fencing work on disputed land parcels continues unabated. This inaction has begun to cast doubts on the administration's operational style. Residents believe that had timely action been taken, these illegal activities could have been curbed.

There is also talk that certain long-standing land disputes in the Birsanagar area—as well as cases linked to the murder of an advocate—could resurface in the headlines. It is anticipated that if an impartial investigation into these matters is conducted, several crucial facts are likely to come to light.

According to sources, allegations are also being leveled that in certain instances, land deals are being executed while keeping the Deputy Commissioner completely in the dark, involving daily transactions worth lakhs of rupees. Furthermore, the silence maintained by local public representatives and administrative officials regarding these matters has sparked numerous questions among the public.

However, no official response regarding these allegations has been issued by the concerned officials to date. In this context, if the administration conducts an impartial inquiry into this entire matter, the truth could come to light, and public trust would also be strengthened.

For the time being, ‘Rashtra Samvad’ has indicated that its investigation into this entire affair—which involves the land mafia—will continue; furthermore, other facets related to this issue will be brought to the fore in the days to come. The time has now come to uncover the true identity of Manoj Kumar.

**The Big Question: Why Has Action Regarding Birsanagar Land Come to a Halt?**

Serious questions are now being raised concerning the land disputes and encroachment cases in Birsanagar. In particular, discussions among local residents and social organizations regarding the tenure of the Circle Officer (CO), Manoj Kumar, have intensified.

The most significant question is: how many land-related cases were actually resolved (disposed of) during Manoj Kumar’s tenure so far? How many cases remain pending? And how many complaints were officially registered? Furthermore, questions are being raised as to which of the registered complaints actually resulted in concrete action, and which were merely buried within the files.

Local residents allege that numerous instances of encroachment on government land—including the erection of illegal boundary walls—have surfaced in the Birsanagar area, and written complaints regarding these violations were duly submitted to the administration. Despite this, construction work and the erection of boundary walls continue unabated in several locations, thereby casting doubts upon the efficacy of the administrative machinery.

Another major question being raised is this: given that CO Manoj Kumar had personally visited Birsanagar and officially demarcated the government land, why has no concrete action been taken since then? If the land in question is indeed government property, why is there such a delay in removing the encroachments and taking punitive action against those responsible?

With these questions looming, the public’s gaze is now fixed firmly upon the administration. The common people maintain that if an impartial and transparent inquiry is conducted into these matters, the unvarnished truth regarding this entire episode could finally be revealed.