The disputed plot

Jan. 8: A group clash over a four-katha plot of land opened up an old wound in Lachit Nagar today.

A resident of Lachit Nagar said the incident took place this afternoon, when relatives of one of the claimants to the plot started to raise a bamboo fence around it, saying the land would be used to construct a mosque. He said heated arguments and a scuffle followed after some of the residents, under the banner of Pragati Samaj, tried to stop them from erecting the fence.

“The situation was volatile, but the intervention of the police and administration on time brought it under control. The dispute over the plot had once reached court in 2004. While Altaf uz Zaman (one of the claimants) said the land belonged to him, some local residents of BT College Lane, under the banner of Pragati Samaj, said they preferred to use the plot to set up a children’s park,” said another resident of the area.

The Pragati Samaj claimed that the original patta holder of the land, Isfatoon Nessa, had donated the plot for a children’s park.

Nagen Kalita, former principal of Banikanta Kakoti Teachers’ Training College, who lives in the area, said the land has been lying unused for several years. He said keeping the greater interest of residents of Lachit Nagar in mind, the Pragati Samaj wanted to develop the plot into a children’s park.

“In fact, the plot was donated to Pragati Samaj. Several dignitaries, including East Guwahati MLA Robin Bordoloi and former Union minister Bijoya Chakraborty, had visited the plot and donated funds to set up the park. Unfortunately, Zaman today tried to occupy the plot forcibly,” Kalita said.

While Zaman could not be contacted, one of his relatives alleged that some of the residents were trying to grab the plot in the name of Pragati Samaj and the children’s park.

The Kamrup (metro) district administration had, in an order dated March 18, 2004, given a verdict in favour of the Zaman’s family. “The records in the district administration clearly mention that the plot belongs to Zaman. None of us are aware that the plot was donated for children’s park by the original patta holder,” he said.

An official of the administration, who visited the spot, said entry of both the parties has been barred into the plot. “The administration has imposed Section 144 on the plot and deployed police personnel to prevent any untoward incident till an amicable solution to the dispute is chalked out,” he said.