NCST orders action against illegal land transfers in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, May 9 :  The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) on Tuesday ordered the District Magistrate of Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh to apprise it of the action taken against officials accused of transferring tribal land to non-tribal people.

The commission also directed the Senior Superintendent of Police to launch a probe into the mysterious death of tribal activist leader Jailal Rathiya, who was found dead on March 17 after he exposed illegal transfer of 300 acres in Kunkuni village of Raigarh district. 

The land was transferred from tribal people to the non-tribals.

"An inquiry should also be launched into the threat given to him (Rathiya). The commission asked the police to inquire into his mobile calls details and persons accompanying him (on the day of his death)," the NCST said in a statement.

The instructions were given in a meeting chaired here by NCST Chairman Nand Kumar Sai.

"The deceased tribal activist leader had opened front against land mafia. It was alleged that his body was cremated without post-mortem," the NCST noted.

The commission has also asked administration to return the land taken against the rules to the original owners and speedy disposal of cases under Chhattisgarh land revenue manual.

The district administration was also instructed to furnish information about the actual payment made to the real land owners in such cases wherein land transfer was done after the permission of District Magistrate. 

"The commission has also directed to cancel such nominations in cases where DMs permission was not accorded. Action should also be taken to identify the benami purchases of land," the commission ordered. 

The commission has directed officers to take action under SC and ST (Eradication of Atrocities) Act 1989 in cases wherein the land of tribal people were transferred in the name of persons of other community by forgery.

Besides, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Bilaspur has been ordered to provide detailed information about the cases of land acquisition from persons of scheduled tribe community for Railways siding.