Kasargod: The controversial Kasargod fort seems to have finally come under the supervision of revenue department with the incorporation of an instruction board in this regard here on Monday. Approximately 5.41 acres of land was identified as government’s property by the revenue department and comprehensive information was made available on the board.
District Bailiff H Dineshan, Tahshildar and other revenue officers visited the spot. The 2009 order of District Commissioner which said that the ‘land where fort is located belongs to government’ has been withheld by the revenue department. The procedure to hand over the fort to Archaeological department will take 2 to 3 days.
A report on the historic fort under the threat of being encroached by the private owners surfaced few days back. As per reports, few influential political leaders were involved in it. Information on a few people paying tax at the Talangere Grama Panchayath as the owners of this fort, which was leaked to public, has created a controversy. Major political parties are planning a protest against the encroachment. Presently, the case is being investigated by the Vigilance DySP Raghuraman.
According to the report, in 2009, some private individuals claimed ownership of the fort and came forward to pay the taxes as the family members of fort owners. Without over viewing the matter, officials collected taxes and now it is also proved that in the last three years the property was sold to three persons.
In 2010 Kerala government allocated funds for the development of the fort. “When the officers came forward to begin works, some private individual’s claimed the ownership of the fort and now the issue has led for political fight in the Kerala assembly too. So the revenue department decided to take possession of the land at the earliest”, said Revenue minister Adoor Prakash and assured fair investigation.
It is alleged that land revenue ex-commissioner T O Suraj was responsible for the land mafia at the fort.
BJP has demanded for a CBI probe into the case and have planned a demonstration in front of the Kasargod Taluk office. Youth Congress has decided to boycott the district commissioner’s office.
