Rajasthan: Sarpanch climbs over JCB machine to stop land encroachment act

The sarpanch of Mandawala village in Rajasthan, Rekha Devi, was on Friday reported to have climbed over a JCB machine through its front loader end, in an attempt to stop an alleged land encroachment act in progress.

Talking to news agency ANI, Rekha Devi said that the land, which belongs to the panchayat, was being illegally encroached upon by a man called Vagha Ram. She said that in August, the Gram Panchayat Mandawala had acted against it, but even after that he was encroaching the land and constructing a wall there. "When we went there, he indulged in the scuffle. We have also given a report to police but they did not act," Rekha Devi said.

Sarpanch Rekha Devi: The land belongs to the Gram Panchayat. What was happening is illegal, I went to protest against it. However, they manhandled me. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/nM0Ls3pHwA

— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2019

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jaidev Singh said that the police have registered a case after the sarpanch, Rekha Chowdhury, filed a case against the encroachment act. The police are looking into the matter and efforts are being carried out to nab Vagha Ram, he said.