Andhra Pradesh SC panel seeks action over alleged Dalit land encroachment

An Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes member has asked officials to recover 12 acres of land in Parvatipuram-Manyam district that he said had been taken from Scheduled Caste farmers. Ravada Seetharam urged District Collector N. Prabhakar Reddy to resume the land in Chintalabelagam village in Jiyyammavalasa mandal.

According to a note sent to the Collector, the plots had been cultivated by members of Scheduled communities before influential local people allegedly took possession. The revenue authorities had earlier recovered the land after the Commission intervened and installed a board stating that it belonged to the government. Seetharam said the board was later removed and the alleged encroachers resumed cultivation.

He also said Scheduled Caste farmers were being prevented from entering the site. The supplied report does not identify the people accused of taking the land or give their response to the allegations. Seetharam called for immediate legal and criminal action against those responsible for removing the official board and occupying the property.

He also asked the government to provide justice to the Dalit farmers who had previously cultivated the land. The Commission member said it had received several complaints about land belonging to Dalits being taken in different parts of Andhra Pradesh. The supplied account does not state whether any arrests or criminal cases have been made in connection with the Chintalabelagam dispute.

The appeal places responsibility on the district administration and revenue authorities to enforce the government’s claim over the land and address the farmers’ complaint. Further action, including the status of any investigation, was not reported.