To:

The District Collector and Magistrate

Visakhapatnam District

Nathavaram,
Dt-14/12/2014.

Dear sir,
Sub: Fact finding team observations during field visit to ChinaJaggampeta, Nathavaram mandal, Meeting
tribals on land dispute with non tribals and police harassing tribals regd....
We, members of various civil society organisations made following observations after field visit
to ChinaJaggampeta village of Nathavaram mandal, Narsipatnam revenue subdivision, and interacted
with tribals there. Objective of the visit is to hear the tribals version on land issue and about threats they
are facing from local police.
The visit happened on 14th December 2014 around 11 am and it involved visiting the land under
contention, observing the crop, talking to tribals involved in the dispute. We used the village revenue
map to identify the land under dispute.
Following are our observations:
The land under contention is under Tribals possession:
In Survey Number 31 at about 10 acres of land is under the possession of ChinnaJaggapeta
tribals and they are cultiavating this land. Currently paddy crop ready to harvest.
According to tribals, An influential political family from Nathavaram mandal head quarter
having eyes on the above said land acquired pattadar passbook illegally by producing invalid
agreement having survey number, extent of land and sale consideration not mentioned. Just
on the basis of this document with out sale deed or title deed justTehsiladar, Nathavaram
issued passbook to the non tribals violating the AP Pattadar Passbook Act, 1971.
The tribals filed revision petition in RDO court, Narsipatanam who is appealent authority
under ROR Act requesting him to cancel the pattadar passbook but the RDO dismissed the
tribals petition without appreciating their version that issual of passbook is in violation of AP
Pattadar Passbook Act, 1971.
The tribals then filed a revision appeal in your office on 8/12/2014 with in the stipulated
time mandated by law. Now the revision appeal is pending for disposal in your office/court.
Police harassing tribals to vacate land
The police are acting highhandedly at the behest of non tribals who got the Pattadar
PassBook/ Title Deed under their name which is challenged by tribals.
Frequently tribals are called to Nathavaram police station and threatened to vacate the
land.
5 tribals from ChinaJaggampeta village were detained in Nathavaram police station on
4th December from 4 pm to 5-30 pm. Later on they are taken to Narsipatnam rural CI
office which is 20 kms from Nathavaram. On the sight of non tribals negotiating with CI
office , the tribals realized that the CI is hand in glove with non tribals to threaten them.

Around 7.30 pm, the rural CI threatened tribals that police will take away the harvest
(paddy) using police battalion if the tribal don't vacate the lands. He demanded that
tribal should produce documents to prove their ownership. Tribal are not allowed to
speak denying opportunity to present their case. Eery Benniah s/o Pentayya; 70 years
old is one among the tribal people taken to the CI office. The tribal are sent back home
same day night.
On Monday (8/12/2014) at 9am again the tribal village elders of ChinaJaggampeta are
called to police station. The SI asked tribals What you have decided about vacating
lands. The y replied back by saying We will go for appeal, so please give us 10 days
time. With their response they are taken again to CI (rural ) office after 6pm. The CI
again threatened them saying that the police will open rowdy sheets and book cases
against them. After 8 pm the tribal are released (Media reached there by that time) by
ordering them that they should be present in Nathavaram police station the next day
morning at 8.
On Tuesday (9/12/2014) tribal elders are called by the police to Nathavaram police
station (again). Visibly irritated SI expressing his anguish over tribal for briefing media
people on their side of story- threatened them that they will not allowed to harvest the
crop and forced them to put their signature/thumb impression on blank papers.
Police interfering in civil dispute is in violation of memorandum number 2854/police/F/77-1,
date 27/10/1977, Government memo number 25196/PSC/A1/2007 Home (PSC) department,
date 23/8/2007. Honourable Supreme Court of India expressed the same opinion in different
cases.
In this context we want make following suggestions for your consideration.

Restrain police from interfering in civil land dispute and protect the tribal enjoyment
rights.

Speedy disposal of revision appeal filed by the ChinaJaggampet tribals under ROR act.

When tribal approach the system in a proper way for justice, it forms greater responsibility on the part
of administration to create confidence that the system will protect them.
Thanking you,
With warm regards,
Muppalla SubbaRao
B.RamakrishnaRaju

Advocate and Member, Bar council of the state of AP

National convenor, National alliance for peoples movements
( Cond...)

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