Ranchi, June 7: It was happy moment for octogenarian Yogia Oraon, a tribal of Misir Gonda, when he got back 15 decimal of his lost ancestral land after four years of struggle.

Oraon was one of the beneficiaries of the operation, which the district administration launched today to get physical possession of the land which the poor tribals had lost due to their innocence and poverty.

Oraon, sharing the ?happy moment of his life? with The Telegraph, said he came in contact with the land mafia when was looking for money to marry off his only daughter. ?I needed Rs 1 lakh for the marriage of my only daughter. As I was old, I had no option other than selling off my ancestral land. When I was making efforts to sell my land, I came in contact with two land mafiosi, Ravi and Mukhtar, who assured me the sum,? he said.

The mafia, Oraon said, called him and provided liquor.

?When I was in an inebriated condition, the gangsters took my thumb impression on a blank piece of paper. He had just paid Rs 100 to me for the thumb impression. I made several efforts to get Rs 1 lakh from him but did not get the amount. Finally I knocked the door of Scheduled Area Regulation court, which ordered for restoration of the plot,? he added.

Oraon, younger brother of Yogia Oroan, said it was the happiest moment for entire family since they had lost all hopes of getting their land back.

?My brother was spending sleepless nights since he had lost his ancestral land in his old age. He was helpless as he was unemployed after his retirement from his service as a conductor of one of the buses run by Ratanlal Surajmal,? he added.

Rajeet Kumar Sinha, circle officer of Ranchi, said Oraon will get more land.

?Actually Yogia had lost 69 decimals of land. When we went to give possession on the land to him, we found the mafiosi had constructed a building on 44 decimal area of land. Since we were not equipped with earthmovers, we could restore only 15 decimal land. The remaining portion of the land will be restored to the family shortly,? he said.

Besides, Oraon there were two more tribals who got back their lost ancestral land. They included Kailash Oraon, a Birsa Agriculture University employee, and Madan Oroan, a farmer. They got back their land at Misir Gonda and Hatma respectively. Their plots were occupied by Piyush Lakra and Ranjeet Kumar Samant respectively for more than 20 years.

Another official said in most of the 892 cases it was detected that the land mafia had lured the owner of the property with liquor and good food and managed to get his thumb impression on a piece of paper without giving a single penny in lieu of the land.

?We are investigating the matter. As soon as we have a detailed report, we will teach a lesson to the persons who are luring tribals by offering them liquor,? the official added.