REFUGEE

— PHOTO: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Revenue officials verifying on Wednesday the removal of the fencing around a piece of land at Kaverirajapuram in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, allegedly held by Karnataka Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran.

TIRUVALLUR: Revenue officials in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu have physically verified the removal of fencing around government lands allegedly grabbed by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran at Kaverirajapuram village in the district.

Officials, including Tirutani Revenue Divisional Officer V.K. Jayakumar and tahsildar R. Vijayaraghavulu, went to the spot on Wednesday after they received information about attempts to destroy evidence of encroachment by removing the fencing. They were accompanied by police as there was fear of resistance.

The revenue department wants to preserve the evidence of fencing around poromboke lands in between and adjacent to the patta lands since Collector V. Palanikumar had already sent his report to the Supreme Court that 199.53 acres of land was in the judge’s possession.

“In our estimation, fencing covering over 1,200 metres has been removed. We have submitted our report to the Collector,” said Mr. Vijayaraghavulu.

Officials took pictures and videographed the evidence. There were holes where fencing posts once stood. Broken posts were also seen scattered in some areas. The barbed wires connecting the posts were missing in some places, though the posts were not taken away.

This is the second time the officials are visiting the area after receiving complaints. On October 10, they visited the land but retreated after a phone call, reportedly from Mr. Dinakaran.

“They have removed fencing around kottai poromboke and yeri [lake],” said the RDO Jayakumar. The kottai areas were once owned by Karvet Nagar Jameen.

According to the officials, Mr. Dinakaran came to know about their arrival at his farmlands, and questioned them about the purpose of their visit. He spoke to both Mr Jayakumar and Vijayaraghuvulu.

The officials explained that they could enter any land to survey the crops cultivated there. When the judge asked them why some non-officials were present, the officials assured him that none other than revenue and police officials was part of the team.

Revenue officials have confirmed that an eviction notice was issued to Mr. Dinakaran and his family members a couple of months ago.