Ranchi, June 29: Subedar Jakariyah Lakra led an Indian Army troop at Dras during the 1999 Kargil war to force intruders to retreat from Indian soil. But, when it comes to vacating his land from illegal occupation, Subedar Lakra says he is helpless.

A resident of Namkum, Ranchi, and currently posted at Bihar Regiment at Danapur in Bihar, Subedar Lakra and his wife Beronika came to today's janata durbar presided by state rural development minister Neelkanth Singh Munda at the chief minister's secretariat from 10.30am to 1.30pm. The soldier was among some 100 complainants.

"It's the fifth and last time that we have come to seek justice," he said, adding he had been to four other durbars earlier. "It is tough for a law-abiding citizen."

Asked why, he said that in 2001, he had purchased 10 decimal plot at Patra Toli under Namkum block from one Uday Oraon, who also promised to give the land of the approach road to Lakra. Though it was identified and earmarked, in 2004, Oraon sold that land to one Vijay Tirkey.

"I challenged it before the SDO court which twice ruled in my favour. But, Ranchi district administration never executed that court order. Construction has come up on the land," he added.

Minister Munda said he would refer the case to Namkum thana and circle office. But, the minister appeared to be "reluctant to entertain my matter", Subedar Lakra said. Clearly, the soldier is besieged in his home turf.

As many as three dozen women from Sirat Nagar at Neori, Ranchi, asked minister Munda to ensure police protection for them in the wake of widespread violence and arson last week when Nasim Ansari, a land broker and resident, was murdered. As many as 30 houses were gutted.

"My entire house was gutted and I am homeless now," Nasreen said. "We don't have any support from the administration and tension continues." Assuring the women of security, Munda referred the case to BIT police outpost under which Neori falls.

As many as five Malhor tribals from Hehal village, Patratu police station area, Ramgarh, told the minister that some 12 acres of their ancestral land was encroached by a powerful businessman, Pradeep Beltharia, who opened a factory there and later sold it to one Ramchandra Rungta.

"We are a semi-nomadic tribe so we don't stay at home for the whole year. When we were out, our land was occupied. Now, to capture the rest of our land, people at the company are creating troubles. They dump sponge iron and coal in front of our homes but the police seems to be on their side," Surendra Malhor said to which the minister asked Ramgarh district administration to look into the matter.

Bimla Devi, a resident of Karam Toli of Ranchi, asked the minister to search for her son Chhotu Kumar Shah (25), who went missing from Muri Express, when he was returning to Ranchi from Ludhiana in November 2015. "Reportedly, he went missing near Tundla in Uttar Pradesh," she said. The minister told her he would speak to Jharkhand railway director-general to coordinate with Uttar Pradesh railway police to hasten the probe.