BJP MLA Maithili Thakur's father accused of land grab, road encroachment found
A controversy has erupted in Bihar’s Darbhanga district after residents of Pokharbhinda panchayat accused Ramesh Thakur, father of BJP MLA Maithili Thakur, of encroaching on a government road and privately owned land while fencing a recently purchased plot.
The villagers have also alleged that they were threatened with false criminal cases when they objected to the encroachment.
Following a written complaint by resident Gagan Kumar Mishra, officials from the Tardih circle office reached the spot on Friday to measure the disputed land. Darbhanga Deputy Land Reforms Officer (DCLR) Ajay Kumar was also present during the measurement.
The administration found encroachment on a portion of the road and initiated steps to clear it. However, the dispute over privately owned land remains unresolved, with the administration directing the complainant to approach the DCLR's office or the civil court through the appropriate legal process.
Speaking at the site, DCLR Ajay Kumar confirmed that the measurement had identified encroachment on government road land. He said the administration was working to remove the encroachment and ensure that the public road remained accessible. He also said that a further date had been fixed for Saturday to address the dispute involving private land.
Kumar added that a portion of the disputed land falls within the jurisdiction of neighbouring Madhubani district. The administration would deal with the private land dispute through the appropriate legal procedure, he said.
Gagan Kumar Mishra, who filed the complaint, alleged that more than 12 dhurs of his privately owned land had also been encroached upon. He said the administration had so far taken action only to clear the government road and had not reached a decision on his private land complaint.
Mishra said the DCLR had advised him to submit a written application at his office for the resolution of the private land dispute. He added that he was prepared to approach both the administrative authorities and the civil court if the matter remained unresolved.
"I am ready to take this fight forward through both the administrative authorities and the civil court. I will approach the appropriate authorities to seek justice," he said.VILLAGERS FLAG ACCESS TO CREMATION GROUND AND TEMPLE
Other residents have also raised concerns over the encroachment, arguing that the road serves as an important access route for the village. They said residents use it to reach the cremation ground and a temple in the area, besides travelling to agricultural fields and other parts of the locality.
Local resident Bhagwan Mishra alleged that Maithili Thakur and her father, Ramesh Thakur, were responsible for encroaching on the road. He claimed that the family had been informed at the time of purchasing the land that there was no road beyond the existing stretch and that the remaining land belonged to private owners.
Another resident, Santosh Kumar, said the road belongs to the Bihar government and connects the locality to the Kamla Balan river. He said farmers use the road to transport agricultural produce and villagers regularly travel along it on tractors and other vehicles.
According to Kumar, the road was initially an earthen track and was subsequently paved with bricks. He alleged that fencing and encroachment took place later, despite objections from villagers.
Kumar further alleged that the neighbouring landowner was being pressured to sell his property to Ramesh Thakur and was threatened with being implicated in a criminal case if he refused. He also claimed that the police had repeatedly been sent to the person's house.
The villagers said they had lodged complaints with the administration and also uploaded the matter on the government's Samadhan portal, seeking intervention.- EndsWith inputs from Prahlad Kumar.
