Accusing the revenue and local administration of having nexus with land mafias, residents of Sargipal for the second time on Wednesday gheraoed the collectorate here over the encroachment of their cremation ground.
Hundreds of residents along with the Sarpanch Jagati Nag and other panchayat functionaries had gone to the collectorate to air their grievances. However, they started shouting slogans and staged protest after none of the officials came out to give them audience. The situation became normal after the sub-divisional magistrate and tehsildar came out and interacted with the protesting villagers.
This was for the second time within a week that the villagers met the administrative officials over the alleged encroachment of their cremation ground. The villagers alleged that some land mafias first built a godown illegally on the cremation ground land of their village, located close to the Jagdalpur town. When they protested the mafias threatened them with arms and weapons.
The mafias also threatened the villagers to demolish the houses of the villagers using JCB and loader machines if they opposed to their acts. They said the mafias have already made elaborate preparation to take possession of the whole cremation ground illegally. They have also already cleared the native vegetations from the ground, the villager alleged.
The villagers also said the mafias have also threatened the school teachers and students and damaged a part of the school complex. The villagers who have formed groups to guard the cremation ground said the administration should immediately take action against the land mafias and provide justice to the villagers.