Cheyyar Sub-Collector to probe destruction of crops raised by SC farmers on panchami land

A group of SC farmers has contended that a portion of the farmland in Arungunam village panchayat near Vandavasi was destroyed a week ago through drones that sprayed herbicide
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A team led by Cheyyar Sub-Collector Pallavi Varma has been entrusted with the task to probe into the allegations of Caste Hindus destroying crops raised by Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers on panchami land recently.

A group of SC farmers has contended that a portion of the farmland in Arungunam village panchayat near Vandavasi was destroyed a week ago through drones that sprayed herbicide. Ms. Varma has been instructed to probe the charges, Tiruvannamalai Collector K. Tharpagaraj told The Hindu. “I have issued directions to the Cheyyar Sub-Collector in this regard. Based on her inquiry report, further action will be taken,” the Collector added.

It was alleged that the Caste Hindu residents were led by K. Harshavarthini, who owned the land earlier. The farmers — namely M. Sugumar, his brother M. Thilakaraj, and V. Annamalai — planted black gram and sesame crops on the land.

“We have been cultivating crops on the land, which was restored to us by the district administration six months ago,” Mr. Sukumar, a first generation learner and one of the complainants, said.

Revenue officials said that originally, the panchami land belonged to Mr. Sukumar’s grandfather, S. Chinnathambi. Subsequently, its ownership changed hands to three Caste Hindus in the village. Finally, it was purchased by N. Karunakaran, also a caste Hindu. Karunakaran transferred the property to Ms. Harshavarthini, his wife, before passing away.

However, after representations were made by the Untouchability Eradication Front, affiliated to the CPI(M), to the district administration, then Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Cheyyar found that land had been classified as ‘Depressed Class (DC) land’ — also known as Panchama land — in its records. The DC land was given to the Dalits by the British to help them socially and economically.

Subsequently, the land was transferred to Dalits. The name in the patta was changed manually for the beneficiaries, but it was not done online owing to procedural delays. As a result, both the sides staked claim over the land, revenue officials said.

According to police sources, the farmers sought action against the caste Hindus under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Ms. Harshavarthini filed complaints against the farmers under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Of Harassment Of Women Act, 1998. Both the parties have been asked to approach revenue officials as this was a civil dispute.

The SC farmers have been warned against cultivating on the land before the issue was amicably settled, as there may be law and order problems.