Hyderabad: A former naxalite, who now leads a normal life as a farmer, has accused the henchmen of a local legislator of trying to grab his land that was assigned to him under a rehabilitation scheme in 2008.
Muhammad Ibrahim, 56, a resident of Manugure mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, was an active naxalite for 30 years before surrendering in 2008. After his surrender, the government assigned him five acres of agricultural land in Pinapaka mandal, under survey number 561/1.
He was among the 651 red ultra who gave up arms in the combined Andhra Pradesh state between 2006 and 2008 after the Central government had introduced a surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy.
“I would grow various crops on that land, to provide for my family. I used to get Rythu Bandhu benefits as well. But things changed in December 2022,” he said. “Now, I am struggling as Pinapaka MLA Rega Kantha Rao’s henchmen are trying to occupied four of the five acres.”
He added, “The land is adjacent to a tributary of Godavari river, Ralla Vagu, from where sand extraction goes on unabated. The sand mafia wants to use the land to stock the sand. They have already started dumping sand there, and I am unable to cultivate it,” he said.
“In January, the MLA sent some people who tried to persuade me to give away my land. I told them that I didn’t have the right to sell the land as it had been assigned to me,” he said.
When Ibrahim refused to give away the land, the MLA’s alleged henchmen occupied his house. “I have four daughters. I was homeless along with my family for days. We had to spend nights at a bus station,” said visibly distressed Ibrahim.
“I submitted a petition in court regarding the house. The court ruled in my favour and issued an order to SP Kothagudem to help me get the possession,” he said.
Even though Ibrahim got back the possession of his house, it was left empty. “They took everything, including the things I had collected for my daughter’s wedding,” he alleged.
“They are now asking to give away my land in return for the things they took from my house and a 2BHK. But I will not give away my land,” he asserted.
Rega Kantha Rao, who initially won on a Congress ticket and later joined the TRS, has allegedly shown no willingness to pay any compensation for the land. Ibrahim has expressed his frustration, stating that he sought assistance from Home Minister Mahmood Ali, but instead of providing help, he was told to resolve the issue locally.
