Land Trouble

The violence that erupted over land acquisition in a village in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on November 6 has brought back memories of Singur and Nandigram. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been quick to describe the clash between the police and villagers in Loba in Dubrajpur area as “pre-planned” and “unfortunate” but the facts are shrouded in mystery.

According to reports, the root of the violent confrontation lies in a coal extraction project undertaken by a joint venture company, DVC-Emta Coal Mines Ltd. Talking to the media, DVC-Emta director Nimai Chand Mukherjee confirmed, “We have already purchased 760 acres of land scattered over 11 mouzas. We need 3,300 acres more for the project to take off.” Some land owners are opposed to any further land acquisition unless they receive the right compensation. A movement has been launched under the banner of Krishi Jami Rakhsa Committee (KJRC), which is supported by Trinamool Congress.

The violence was triggered when, following a complaint by DVC-Emta, the district police tried to take possession of earthmoving equipment under villagers' the control since December 2011. At least 27 police personnel, including three officers, and six villagers were injured.

The state administration has not confirmed whether the police opened fire on the villagers. The CM denied that the men in uniform exceeded their brief. “I am sorry for what happened. The villagers were not at fault either. They were provoked. It was entirely pre-planned.”

State home secretary Basudeb Banerjee was more categorical: “There was no firing by the police.” He added: “The district police superintended has informed me personally that no remnants of bullets have been found in the medical reports of the wounded persons.”

Many questions remain unanswered.  How were bullet shells from police rifles found in the area? Medics from a government hospital confirmed that the villagers had sustained bullet injuries. Moreover, if the police are really blameless, why was Hrishikesh Meena, district police superintendent, given ‘leave approval’ almost overnight and replaced?

Both the CM and industry minister Partha Chatterjee allege involvement of outsiders. But residents of Loba and surrounding villages have openly refuted the state government version. “It’s our land and this struggle is ours alone. Farmers who lost their land in eleven villages in this area are part of the agitation,” Joydeep Majumder, KJRC secretary, asserted.

The Congress, CPM and BJP have jointly demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. The villagers are in favour of a judicial inquiry, but the state government has ordered an administrative probe. Though the villagers do not have much faith in the government’s handling of the situation, they have decided to wait and watch.

A section of the media is liekning the Dubrajpur incident Nandigram and Singur during the last years of Left Front rule. Pradesh Congress president Pradip Bhattacharjee feels likewise. But despite certain similarities, the latest flashpoint is quite different. The multi-crop cycle of the land here may be similar to the situation in Singur, but the Dubrajpur farmers were not forcibly evicted. In fact, Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly said her government will not exert force to take land away from farmers. Interestingly, no farmer in Dubrajpur is unwilling to part with his land provided he gets the right price for it.

The demand of the villagers placed before the industry minister is clear: “Affected leaseholders, sharecroppers, fishermen and daily wage labourers should be rehabilitated. They should be compensated for loss of livelihood and the area should be developed.” People here want mediators to be kept out. They have sought direct intervention of the government to ensure compensation and rehabilitation.

Phelaram Mondol,  president of KJRC, said: “Instead of using dalals, DVC-Emta should deal directly with the landowners. We also want the government to play an active role in getting us a fair deal.” While the industry minister has made no commitment yet, DVC-Emta seems reluctant to hold further negotiations.

The mining licence was given to DVC-Emta in 2009 by the then Left front government. According to a source in the company, the land price was settled at an all-party meeting in 2010. The proposed compensation package was Rs 4 lakh per acre for riverbank land, Rs 8 lakh per acre from one-crop farmland, and Rs 10 lakh per acre for multi-crop plots. Misled by the mediators, many farmers gave up their lands at those agreed rates. They are now demanding Rs 12 lakh, Rs 14 lakh and Rs 16 lakh per acre respectively.

Strangely, a Trinamool faction is reportedly supporting the company. The land agents who once operated under the Left umbrella are now willing to switch political allegiance so that they can continue their business unhindered.

In another twist, displaced Dubrajpur villagers are under the Mining Act of 2011, demanding 26 percent share in the profit of the project. They are banking on the TMC government to serve their interests. But local MP Shatabdi Roy is unsure about what exactly is unfolding. “I don’t have any specific idea about how our government can resolve the deadlock triggered under Left Front rule,” she says. 

snehangshu.adhikari@thesundayindian.com