Koraput, Oct 02 (UNI) On the eve of International Coffee Day, the coffee farm workers of the Urvora Agro-Biotech Private Ltd here on Friday upped the ante against their "forcible eviction" from workplace by one Adarsh Agrwal with "tacit" support of the Koraput Sadar police on Wednesday.
They alleged that around twenty police personnel, including Tahasildar Dasmanthpur, SDPO Koraput and IIC, Koraput Sadar police station, threatened them to face arrest, if not vacated, and subsequently compelled them to leave the farm house, and that too sans any Court order.
They requested the police to allow time , but all fell on their deaf ears.
Rather Agrwal roped in "henchmen", who indulged in vandalism, broke open the locks of all doors and threw away the belongings of farm labourers, they further alleged.
The cells of the farm workers were also forcibly snatched away by the SDPO and IIC, they alleged.
" On the next day they returned the cells but after deleting all photos from the sets, " the workers said and alleged that Agrwal failed to show any eviction order to the labourers.
They complained thay the act of "forcible eviction" was totally illegal without Court order.
Some of the farm workers have been residing inside the farm house except Farm Manager Kamal Das and his family members.
With the "tacit support" of police, Agrwal kept some anti-social elements inside the farm to create disturbance, Deba, a farm worker, said.
Managing Director of Urvora Agro Biotech Pvt Ltd (Coffee Farm) Vaijendra Rana, said, " A land dispute is going on between Urvara Agro-biotech Pvt Ltd and Adarsh Agrawal, former Director of the company, for a piece of land of over 17.38 acre situated at Routput Mousa of Dasmanthpur Tahasil in Koraput district for the past three years. "
" It is a composite parcel of land of 40 acres which is bounded by all sides with solar fencing with one entry gate. Dispute is on 17.38 acres of land only which is part of 40 acres. No demarcation has ever been done as Urvara Agro Group is in possession of the same. The 17.38 acre of land in the name of Agrawal is being held by him in fiduciary capacity on behalf of Urvara Agro Pvt Ltd, and he agreed to transfer the land earlier. But he did not fulfil his contractual obligation and on the contrary filed civil case, " Rana stated.
" Later, frivolous complaints were filed and Koraput Sadar PS has entertained the same in spite of the fact that there is no eviction order from Court to this effect and we are in possession since beginning, " the MD informed.
He alleged that though the case is civil in nature, police have allegedly taken undue interest in the case to dispossess them from the site by trying to remove caretaker Kamal Das from the farmland in order to extend unjustified benefit to Agrawal.
The MD also said in the past Agrwal’s complaint turned out to be a damb squib and was found as mistake of facts by police.
Police submitted closure report before the court, he added.
When contacted Agrwal said the land is recorded in his name, on the strength of the court order, “adding, " We are evicting them. I have absolute right on my land. "
While talking to the Tahasidar Dasmanthpur, he refused to pass any comment as he is in Magistrate duty.
At the same time Koraput Sub-Divisonal Police Officer (SDPO) said, " We have been deployed to ensure law and order situation and to protect the Magistrate. "
However, he did not comment on eviction activities.
UNI XC SJC