Ghani Khan institute to be set up on 'grabbed' land?

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 12 FEB: An agency that was appointed by the South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury to buy land for setting up the proposed ‘Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology’ has allegedly grabbed a large quantum of tribal land in old Malda. The Centre had approved the institute to be name after Congress patriarch and allocated Rs 97 crore for the project in November 2008. The agency engaged to procure land for the purpose, bought about 100 acre agriculture land in the district in past six months. Some of the land bought allegedly belongs to tribals. The tribals who lost their land have, however, expressed surprise with the development. They alleged that they were not aware who sold off their land to the agency.Two tribal women Mrs Talamoyee Kisku and Mrs Sajli Kisku recently filed a case against the deal in the Malda district court to save their land. They have also brought the issue to the notice of the land and land reforms department. According to their lawyer Mr Amitava Maitra, his clients were unaware who sold off their land to the agency. “A third party sold off 1.55 acres of their land by preparing false documents”, the lawyer alleged.Pursuant to the litigation, civil judge (Jr division) first court, Malda, Mrs Madhumita Roy on 10 February issued an injunction so that no one could take possession of the disputed land.Claiming they had not received any money for the land, complainant Sajli Kisku’s husband Mr Kajal Singh said. “We do not know who sold off our land. Some touts are threatening and preventing us form cultivating the land claiming that an agro-company has bought he land to set up the Ghani Khan University”.The issue is causing ripples in the Congress too. Siding with the land losers, former Old Malda block Mrs Dolly Hansada said: “We have come to know that an agency has allegedly grabbed tribal land ignoring the government’s land acquisition system”.“An agency cannot buy tribal land in such fashion. We would resist the deal”, she said.The district administration too has been caught off guard on the issue. “Members of the Ghani Khan family had met me and pointed out the problem of tribal land in the area. As far as I know they can not buy tribal land”. “There is a specific guideline for acquisition of tribal land. It is surprising how the land and land reforms department cleared the deal. I must look into the matter”, said the Malda DM Mr Sridhar Ghosh.