Tripura Minister Demands Bulldozer Action Against CPM's Illegal Land Encroachments
Agartala: Tripura's parliamentary affairs minister, Ratan Lal Nath, launched a scathing attack on the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday, accusing it of illegally occupying government land to construct party offices during its years in power. He demanded strict action, including the demolition of such structures using bulldozers.
Assembly Session Remarks
Speaking on the concluding day of the Tripura assembly's budget session, Nath made these remarks while responding to a query by CPM MLA Shyamal Chakraborty regarding alleged encroachments on government land at Boxanagar in Sepahijala district. Nath asserted that the government should employ bulldozers to remove illegal party offices built on encroached land.
He informed the assembly that the government has already initiated action against illegal land occupation, with the sub-divisional magistrate intervening in such cases. Nath alleged that during its tenure, the CPM misused more than 100 kani of government land for unauthorized rubber plantations.
Support for CM's Drive
Nath strongly backed Chief Minister Manik Saha's ongoing drive to recover encroached land and called for the demolition of all illegally constructed CPM offices. According to him, these alleged encroachments occurred across Tripura on both government and private land, leading to violent clashes in some instances.
Specific Case Cited
Chief Minister Manik Saha supported Nath's claims by referencing a specific case from Amarpur in Gomati district. In this instance, a CPM party office was found to have illegally occupied 556 square feet of government khas land. Eviction proceedings were initiated in May 2018 by the sub-divisional magistrate's court in Amarpur, followed by an eviction order from the Gomati district administration.
The CPM later challenged this decision in the high court, but its petition was dismissed, upholding the eviction order. This case underscores the legal battles surrounding land encroachment issues in the state.
Nath emphasized that such actions are part of a broader effort to ensure land justice and prevent misuse of public resources. The minister's statements highlight ongoing political tensions in Tripura over land rights and governance.
