Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai explaining to the Sanguem Mamlatdar about the alleged harassment faced by villagers.
Farmers from Dapodem ward of Bhati village in Sanguem have strongly protested against the forest department’s move to fence an agricultural property, which they claim has been in their possession since 1968.
The villagers accused the department is misusing its authority to forcibly take over land that rightfully belongs to them.
Tension escalated when forest department workers began constructing a compound wall around the disputed land. The villagers termed the action as high-handed and unjustified, asserting that they possess complete documentation of ownership, including a sanad issued by the Collector in 1986.
Following the development, the affected farmers approached Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai. The minister visited the site and later met the Sanguem Mamlatdar, urging him to take the matter seriously and ensure justice for the villagers.
During the interaction, Phal Dessai highlighted that the documents held by the villagers clearly establish their continuous and undisputed possession of the land since 1968, further strengthened by the sanad issued in 1986.
He called upon the Mamlatdar to summon forest department officials and direct them to produce valid documents supporting their claim over the land.
Phal Dessai criticised the forest department for what he described as adamant behaviour, stating that such actions are instilling fear among villagers about possible forceful dispossession. He remarked that similar incidents have been occurring repeatedly in remote areas and emphasised the need to put an end to such practices.
