Hyderabad: Medak Member of Parliament Raghunandan Rao has raised serious concerns about the alienation of tribal lands in violation of a State High Court order. He urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the State Director General of Police to immediately intervene and stop the Medak Police from continuing these actions.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Rao highlighted that the State High Court had issued clear instructions prohibiting interference with 85 acres of tribal land in Velimela village without following proper legal procedures. This order, issued on January 9, 2025, under writ petition number 93, directed officials to maintain the status quo. However, Rao alleged that during the Sankranti holidays, when the High Court is closed until January 25, efforts are being made to unlawfully alienate 25 acres of this land in favor of private parties.
According to Rao, tribal farmers who have been cultivating the land for generations are being targeted. He claimed that the police have registered 17 cases, including some under Section 307, to intimidate the tribals and discourage them from opposing the construction of a boundary wall. For the past three days, the wall has reportedly been built to seize the 25 acres of government land, with police enforcement of Section 144 being used to threaten villagers and ensure the construction proceeds.
The BJP MP revealed that the lands in question are worth between Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,500 crore. He accused a minister from the ruling party of actively supporting the illegal seizure of these lands, which have historically been cultivated by tribals. Rao called on the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) to revoke any illegal actions aimed at transferring these lands to private entities.
Rao further alleged that the Medak police are working to facilitate the construction of the compound wall, blatantly violating court orders. He recalled the history of the 85 acres of unclaimed land, noting that earlier orders from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, along with CCLA circulars on land record corrections, support the tribals’ claims. Despite promises made by the Congress government to restore these lands, Rao argued that the situation remains unchanged, with tribal lands still being targeted for seizure.
He criticized both the previous BRS government and the current Congress regime, claiming that while the ruling party’s flag may have changed color—from pink to tricolor—the plight of the tribals remains the same. Rao accused those in power, along with the bureaucracy and police, of aiding wealthy individuals in taking over lands cultivated by tribals and Dalits for generations.
