Some original landholders of Bhitia mauza of Govindpur block of Dhanbad district have come forward and claimed returning the land they had sold to former Chief Minister and incumbent leader of Opposition Hemant Soren. The claim has been made citing provisions of the CNT Act.
Highly placed sources of Govindpur Circle and also of the district told The Pioneer about the development which is perceived as repercussions of the Debashish Gupta inquiry committee findings related to the violations of the CNT-SPT provisions made across the State.
“Raiyats of the Bhitia mauza have approached our office and claimed that the lands in the name of Hemant Soren have been restored to them since they are the original owners of the land. They have also staked claim over the compensation to be given against diversion for the National Highway crossing the area,” said a senior official of the Circle office.
He went on further adding that the office was examining the claims made. “We have sought for supporting documents which have not been tendered to us so far. Till now, they are making only verbal claims over the land,” said the official. Work over six-laning the National Highway-2 is under process in Dhanbad and the aforesaid section falls between Barwa Adda to Panagarh area.
Hemant along with his brother Basant Soren has bought acres of land under the Circle allegedly by citing their permanent residency in Govindpur. However, there are allegations that the family originally belongs to Ramgarh district and the plots were transferred on their names by overlooking provisions under the tenancy acts which prohibit even a tribal to buy property of another tribal outside the district periphery.
“The claimants have propped up perhaps due to the flaw which would be exposed if action on the Debashish Gupta Special Investigation Team’s finding is taken. If the charges against the JMM leader are found to be true, then the land would have to be restored to the original raiyats,” said a district administration official.
When asked, Additional Collector of Dhanbad Satyendra Kumar confirmed that land transfer in question and several others of similar nature were being probed. “About 12 such applications have come into fore in the district and have been forwarded to concerned Circle Officers for examination. Any action would be taken based on the fact finding,” he said.
The Additional Collector also affirmed having knowledge about the matter of Hemant Soren and his clan but quoted official records which mark the family as original resident of Maniyadih of Tundi Block of Dhanbad.