Sixteen poor Muslim families in Berhampur have accused the authorities of forced displacement from the area where they have been living for 35 years without any rehabilitation measures.
They have also approached the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, regarding this. Local unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has come in support of these families and has written to the Deputy Inspector General of police, southern range and Berhampur Sub-Collector to intervene and protect their rights. These families were living in small houses built by them on a patch of land adjacent to the Muslim burial ground in Nilakanthanagar area of Berhampur.
According to the Odisha State executive member of AAP Prabhat Mohanty, some private persons, the police and local municipal corporation authorities have joined hands for some reasons to terrorise these families into giving up their place. Members of these families alleged that since past few weeks they have been receiving threats from some persons and police personnel to vacate the land. Even the Berhampur Municipal Corporation officials have also been reportedly trying to force them to vacate the area and resettle at some other place.
