CPI-ML GHERAOED THE TARARI BLOCK OFFICE AGAINST CONSPIRACY TO EVICT POOR LAND TITLEHOLDERS

CPI-ML GHERAOED THE TARARI BLOCK OFFICE AGAINST CONSPIRACY TO EVICT POOR LAND TITLEHOLDERS

28-MARCH-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------In response to a call by the CPI(ML), the Block Office will be picketed to protest against the conspiracy to evict approximately 100 land titleholders from Tarari village. These titleholders are being evicted from their land to benefit 'Hollyhock Infrastructure'—a company owned by Tarari MLA Vishal Prashant.

Today, a six-member inquiry team from the CPI(ML) arrived in Tarari village. Upon reaching the site of the incident in Tarari, the CPI(ML) team interacted with local residents to gather information. The inquiry team comprised Upendra Bharti, Sanjay Ji, Ramdayal Pandit, Nitish Paswan, Satendra Singh, and Dadan Paswan. A fact-finding team from the CPI(ML) discovered that in 1970–71, residents belonging to various castes—specifically Paswan, Ravidas, Bind, Yadav, Dhobi, Kumhar, Nat, and Kushwaha—in the area west of Tarari village (Tarari Block) were issued land *parwanas* (allotment orders) and *parchas* (land records). While approximately 100 individuals received such documents, only a few currently retain their original *parchas* or *parwana* receipts; for the majority, these documents have been lost. A major flood struck these regions in 1987, resulting in the loss of many documents as they were washed away by the floodwaters. The affected residents explained that whenever water flows down from the Rohtas uplands, the entire *ahar* (traditional water reservoir/channel system) becomes submerged. The land parcels—totaling approximately 37 acres—for which these *parchas* were issued are currently utilized for cultivating a single Rabi crop; moreover, the water retained in this system has historically served to irrigate several surrounding villages. The contract for the renovation of the *ahar*, *pain* (irrigation channels), and *pokhar* (ponds) has been awarded to "Hollyhock Infrastructure Limited"—a private company owned by Tarari MLA Vishal Prashant, his mother (and former election candidate) Geeta Devi, and his brother, Navneet Kumar Pandey. All the affected residents are landless individuals. Three years ago, a small pond was excavated on this land; now, that same site is being expanded into a much larger pond covering approximately two *bighas*. Through intimidation and threats, the standing gram (chickpea) crops belonging to the tenant farmers on this land have been forcibly destroyed, and preparations are underway to excavate yet another pond. This course of action threatens to result in the permanent loss of the land itself, the destruction of the tenant farmers' crops, and the potential inundation of dozens of surrounding villages. In response to this incident, the affected residents—operating under the banner of the "Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti" (Save Land Struggle Committee)—have launched an indefinite sit-in protest (*dharna*) at the Tarari Block headquarters. The CPI(ML) has been raising this issue consistently since the very first day of the protest. Demands have been placed before the Tarari administration to immediately halt these activities and to guarantee housing and residential rights for the displaced poor. Should these demands not be met, the CPI(ML) has issued a call to encircle the Block Office on March 28th. The sit-in protest by the Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti continues unabated.