JOIN USBraving all odds for a piece of land
As the country is celebrating the 13th anniversary of the Kargil war, a brave solider who had fought against the terrorists and was disabled just before the Kargil war, is still fighting for the State government’s promised help.
Chandappa D S, a resident of Mogru in Belthangady has been running from pillar to post since 2004, for a piece of land which was earmarked for the ex-servicemen, at Kaniyoor of Belthangady taluk.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said that as per the RTC of the land, about 13.20 acre land has been earmarked in survey number 113 for the ex-servicemen way back in 1982.
“I approached the authorities concerned, urging to sanction a piece of land for me, so that I can lead a decent life. However, all my efforts have gone in vain.”
Recalling the incident of September 8, 1997 when he was injured while fighting with infiltrators, he said: “I was in 25 RR of Madras Regiment based at Doda. On September 7, we got a message that terrorists had reached Doda.
As I was from 25 Rashtriya Rifles, our duty was to seal the border. When we received information that militants were holed up in a house, three of us from our team were sent to attack them. But I was hit by a bullet. In the whole incident, our team had killed three militants. Four Indian soliders were killed in the exchange of fire and two were injured,” he said.
“I was hit with a bullet from AK-47 on my right leg and also a grenade exploded nearby injured my left leg on the ill-fated day,” he recalled.
He was bedridden for one-and-a-half years with a plaster on his leg. In 2003, the Army decided to give pension to the disabled soldiers. Since 2004, Chandappa has been fighting for his rights.
He has approached chief minister, and all the other concerned.
Stating that he has submitted over 300 applications to the concerned seeking a piece of land till date, he said that he heaved a sigh of relief when the then Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao directed the revenue department to get the encroachment vacated.
However, a landlord of the vicinity filed a legal battle against the district administration’s decision, stating that the said land was his kumki land. However, the writ petition filed by the landlord was rejected.
In fact, the court had directed the district administration to hand over the land to the purpose it was earmarked for. However, as and when the district administration made an attempt to vacate the encroachment, the landlord was engaged in filing a fresh writ in the court. “As a result, all my dreams have shattered,” he said.
“Home Minister R Ashok had announced that land would be given to the ex servicemen if they had mentioned their state as Karnataka while joining the Army, in Bangalore recently. In fact, as many as 10 ex-servicemen had received the land in Bangalore.
But now when I applied for the same, the officials said that they have not got any order from the government, to allot land for the ex-servicemen,” Chandappa said. “If this continues, I will join hands with the Naxals, to fight against the landlords and corrupt officials. In fact, I have even written a letter to Chief Ministers on my views.”
Chandappa has served for 17 years in the Army. He had joined the Army in 1987. After training in Tamilnadu, he was sent to Sri Lanka as a part of Indian Peace Keeping Force. He had served in Jammu and Kashmir for nine years, Punjab for two years, Rajasthan for one year and Hyderabad for one year.