A land dispute between members of a community has allegedly led to ostracising of a six-member family at Banda Lingapur village in Metpally mandal, around 50 km from Jagtial district headquarters.
The victim, Kandari Venkat Reddy, belonging to Gudeti Kapu community, said the dispute was with regard to his 1.32 acres of land in survey number 80 at the village. Though he owns the land, the dispute began over its borders with one Baddam Kotesh and Sama Venkatnarsaiah, who have nine and three guntas of land respectively.
Matter in court
Despite the matter being in court, the village elders belonging to Godeti Kapu Sangham organised a panchayat and instructed him to hand over the land to the two persons belonging to the same community or pay a fine of ₹1.5 lakh to the Sangham. When he refused to pay the fine, the village elders ostracised his family. They were not allowed to attend community festivals organised during the Aashada Masam .
Besides, the village elders have started imposing fine ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 on those who speak to Mr. Venkat Reddy and his family. Sathyamma, Venkat Reddy’s sister, was imposed a fine of ₹30,000 for speaking to the family.
Unable to bear the harsh treatment being meted out to them by the members of their own community, Mr. Venkat Reddy and his family members have left the village and are currently residing at their relatives’ house in other mandals.
His son Bhaveen, studying in class IX, and daughter Vasudeepika, studying in class VII, have stopped going to school. Ever since they were ostracised, Mr. Venkat Reddy has been running from pillar to post seeking justice, and has even approached Korutla legislator K. Vidyasagar Rao, TRS leaders, police officials and others, but in vain.
On Sunday, he and his family members approached Lok Satta Udyama Samstha and the State Human Rights Commission. Lok Satta district president N. Srinivas said the village development committees or community elders have no right to expel anyone from a village.
“The right to live is a fundamental one and people can live anywhere in the country,” he said and urged the police to interfere and allow the family to stay in their village.
When contacted, Metpally Inspector B. Srinivas Reddy said in spite of insisting to lodge a complaint under the PCR Act against his community leaders, the victim was not doing so. “And only when he files a complaint, we can take action,” he added.
