more-in Several farmers of Permude and Kuthethur, whose lands are sought to be acquired for the Phase IV expansion of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Ltd. (MRPL), held a demonstration at the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board office, against the alleged high-handedness of a KIADB official. Coming together under Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, around 60 farmers alleged that the official was indulging in illegal practices. They demanded the official’s immediate suspension and a departmental inquiry into irregularities in the land-acquisition process. In a memorandum submitted to the government, Samiti office-bearers said the official has created fictitious land records of farmers. The official has lodged hundreds of caveats before jurisdictional courts so as to pre-empt farmers from approaching the courts. They noted that the government has identified lands for MRPL in an unscientific manner, covering agricultural lands, residential localities and places of worship. The KIADB does not have primary data of the family details of farmers who are sought to be evicted from their lands against their will. The details are necessary to provide employment to members from the affected community at MRPL.

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