While police are in search of a controversial godman of Sundargarh district, who allegedly encroached about 100 acres of Government land, including a village road and playground, under the lepripada police station, a team from the district administration under the leadership of the Sub-Collector visited the area and conducted an inquiry.
Against the demand of the villagers to immediately seal the property, the Sub Collector assured the villagers to start demarcation of land from Monday and then take necessary action, against encroached land.
According to sources, Dolamani Patel, a teacher, had developed an Ashram of his own and claimed himself as a self styled godman. Some others had joined his associates and slowly he had established his empire there, after encroaching land. He was later identified as Dola Baba.
There was, however, resentment among local people, since Dola Baba who had taken some land in donation to construct a hospital from thelocals had cheated them. Recently, the villagers had a tussle with the volunteers of Ashram over the encroachment of a village road, following which tension had prevailed in the area.
The persons, who had sold their land, also claimed that the Baba should return their land. Following the controversy, one Sundarmani Majhi along with other villagers had filed a complaint in lephripara police station against Dola Baba and his four associates on September 23.
“Accused Dolamani Patel and his associates have absconded and we are in search of them,” said lephripara police station IIC Anil Parida, adding that demarcation of disputed land would be done from Monday and necessary action will also be taken.