Keonjhar: Even as a controversy has broken out over a land issue between the people of Kudumi and Juanga communities at Nalapanga under Pandapada police limits in Keonjhar district, the Kudumis alleged that the people of their community are facing torture and injustice.
Condemning the incident, leaders of Kudumi Mohant Samaj addressed a press meet at Dev Bhawan here Sunday and warned of an agitation November 2.
Kudumi leaders held the administration responsible for the land issue and observed that cases of injustice on Kudumi Mohantas are growing due to alleged inefficiency of the administration. They made it clear that the community will no longer tolerate the injustice.
For the last few months, Nalapanga has been tense due to a land dispute between Juangas and Kudumis. Twenty-seven Kudumi families reside in the village and own 70 to 80 acres of land.
Kudumi leaders alleged that on instruction from some outsiders, Juangas have grabbed their land. Kudumis are being harassed and false cases have been filed against them with some outsiders provoking the Juangas, they asserted.
The result is that situation has turned from bad to worse while Kudumis have been helpless.
They pointed out that the High Court had intervened in the matter and instructed the administration to sort out the issue within 15 days, but the latter has turned a deaf ear to their problems.
“Kudumis will protest the administrative apathy November 2,” said Daktar Mohant, district convenor of Kudumi Mohant Samaj.
He said over 20,000 Kudumis living in various parts of the state will take part in a massive rally which will be taken out from Kalipadia to the Collectorate.
Scores of Kudumi leaders from Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Harichandanpur spoke on the issue.