ZPSC Activists March to Claim 927 Acres, Arrested

On 18-19 May, the Panjab police raided homes of leaders and activists of the Zameen Prapati Sangarsh Committee (ZPSC) in Sangrur district and arrested 130 activists. The reason for the raid was that on 28 Feb, the Dalits (marginalized caste) from the Malwa region had announced if the Panjab government does not declare 927 acres once owned by the erstwhile princely state of Jind as nazool (public) land and redistribute it among Dalits and other landless communities as per the Punjab Land Reform Act (PLRA), 1972, they would claim it. The ninth and last titular king of the Jind, Satbir Singh, had died in Gurugram in August 2023 without leaving an heir. However, on 20 May, when ZPSC marched to claim the land at Bir Eswan village, the police in six adjoining districts were mobilized and they blocked all the roads leading to the land. When activists marched on foot, hundreds of them were arrested. Many of them were later released but over 400 remain in custody and nearly 300 were jailed. ZPSC president Mukesh Malaud said, 'The detained activists are being subjected to inhumane treatment. They are confined in overcrowded cells, denied clean drinking water, proper food, and even barred from receiving essential items and clothes sent by their families.' The Pendu Mazdoor Union (Rural Labor Union, PMU) has intensified its campaign against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt. The Pendu Khet Mazdoor Union (Rural Farm labor Union) too demanded ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of all arrested activists. Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said, 'The land primarily consists of forest bed, with nearly 800 acres classified as such. Additionally, about 125 acres of arable land are under the cultivation of private individuals linked to the late kin Satbir Singh’s ownership. The transfer of ownership from the kin to the government is currently under dispute. The matter is sub judice.' National Dalit organizations have opposed the arrests and organized a protest at Punjab Bhawan (House) in New Delhi (earlier coverage).