A Rasta Roko held here on Sunday by Bhu-Sampati Suraksha Parishad activists demanding mutt property rights for local residents was almost successful.
Over 80,000 residents have been facing immense difficulties as two Revenue Department circulars deprived them of their right over mutt properties. Otherwise, they could have brought these lands into their possession after obtaining necessary permission from the Endowments Commissioner.
Earlier, Parishad leaders had met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and requested him to take appropriate steps so that they can get right over the mutt properties. Accordingly, the Chief Minister appointed a committee to sort out their problems. As no development has been noticed since then, the Parishad activists staged the Rasta Roko to exert pressure on the Government to annul the Revenue Department circulars.
The police arrested over 150 activists, including former Puri MlA Umaballav Rath, Parishad convenor Surendrnath Das, president Gokulananda Samal, Adityahruday Mishra, Jagannath Deo and Sarat Kumar Rath at around 4 pm. The Parishad leaders’ arrest evoked sharp reactions among the residents.