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The Hindu

Tollywood Dalit producer seeks SC panel help to save his land in Tekkali

Tollywood film producer Balaga Prakasha Rao, along with representatives of various Dalit associations, submitted a memorandum to National Commission for Scheduled Castes member V. Ramachander, in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, urging the Commission to intervene and protect his two-acre of property in Raghunathapuram village of Tekkali mandal, Srikakulam district. Joint Action Committee of Scheduled Castes and Tribes of Srikakulam district co-convener Kantha Venu, Ambedkar India Mission State vice president Taekwondo Srinu, and representatives of various Dalit organisations briefed Mr. Ramachander about the injustice faced by Mr. Prakash. They claimed that many Dalit entrepreneurs in Srikakulam were being harassed by influential individuals who were attempting to grab lands belonging to those from marginalised communities. In the memorandum, Mr. Prakash and others alleged that Tekkali Revenue Divisional Officer M. Krishna Murthy was encouraging a few Tekkali residents including Lakkoji Gangarao, L. Keshava Rao, L. Sankara Rao and Y. Srinivasa Rao to create legal problems and project the site as a disputed property although it was bought by Mr. Prakash in 2023. According to them, Mr. Prakash obtained all valid documents from members and legal heirs of the Jagadhatri Displaced Goldsmiths RCC Spun Pipes Cooperative Society in 2023. The land comes under the survey numbers of 520/1 and 520/3 of the Tekkali mandal. Mr. Prakash said: 'The government is encouraging SC entrepreneurs across the State. Unfortunately, Tekkali revenue officials are causing mental agony despite the then Tekkali sub-collector and other officials having issued sale deed, adangal and conversion approvals after payment of the statutory fees to the government two years ago. No Dalit industrialist will come forward to set up industries if fake petitions are encouraged by the revenue department.' Mr. Ramachander assured the delegation that the Commission would verify the veracity of the documents and investigate the issue in a few days.