One dead, 2 hurt in land dispute

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 25

In a dispute over alleged encroachment upon a common pathway attached to agriculture land in Sango Romana village of Faridkot, a person was killed and two others seriously injured on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Gurjit Singh. The injured have been admitted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital.

According to police sources, there was a common pathway to approach the agriculture land of both Gurjit Singh and Parminder Singh, two farmers of Sango Romana.

Due to alleged encroachment on both sides of the pathway, it had turned narrow, posing problems to those driving on the road, particularly when on a four-wheeler.

It is alleged that families of both Gurjit Singh and Parminder Singh had a dispute a few days ago, after a Gurjit Singh’s truck used the pathway. After Parminder Singh alleged that the truck had destroyed his paddy crop, the village panchayat intervened to settle the issue.

On Sunday, in the presence of some panchayat members, both parties again made allegations of encroachment on the pathway. During this, there was alleged use of a fire-weapon, killing Gurjit Singh and leaving two seriously injured. The Police have started investigation after registering cross-cases in the dispute. Encroachments a common issue in Faridkot Complaints of blatant encroachment of common panchayat land and pathways are common in this rural area. It is not only the panchayat land and pathways are under illegal possession, even ‘Hada Rori’ (place for disposal of the carcasses, hide, remains, etc of dead animals) has been usurped and ‘pucca’ (concrete) houses have been built on these places.

Residents of Golewala village have no ‘Hada Rori’ to dispose of dead animals as supporters of a former sarpanch raised a house on the land earmarked for ‘Hada Rori’.

A major portion of a prime land of panchayat situated on the Faridkot-Ferozepur road in Golewala is under encroachment for the past many years. A part of this land has also been used to construct houses in the area.