Inam land issue claims one life in Kalasa

On Monday morning, a hard working planter named Paul Pinto decided to end his life. It was not due crop failure or burden of bank loan. The Damocles sword called ‘Inam land’ and uncertainty revolving around it is said to be the reason for Paul’s extreme step.

Paul was eking out income from his small plantation, making coffins, doing masonry and other odd jobs. The irony was that the family members of Paul, a coffin maker had to run from pillar to post to get a coffin for him. However, he was laid to rest in a small congested box.

Over the last 40 years Paul had won the hearts of people of Devaragudde through his simplicity. Called ‘Uddina Porbu’ Paul had believed that the five acre land that he lived on belonged to him.

He had submitted form no 53 to the revenue department seeking sanction of land but since he could neither bribe the officials nor get recommendation from influential persons no land was sanctioned for him. He continued to live on the five acre barren land, which he magically converted into a plantation.

Working as a worker in big plantations, Paul had nurtured his small dream plantation. Since last two years, the plantation had started giving him enough pepper, coffee and areca which added to the income of the family.

However, the High Court verdict that was out last month stating that all Inam land will belong to forest department had left Paul in a depressed state. He had become inconsolable. It is said that under this depression Paul had resorted to consuming lot of alcohol and on Monday morning he decided to end his life consuming poison.

Unfortunately, since the family does not have proper documents with regard to the land, they many not get any compensation.

On Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Prashanth, Tahshildar Chinnaraju, Revenue Inspector Keerthi Pal visited the residence of Paul and consoled the family members. The AC said that since the land that Paul lived on seems more like an encroachment, the family will not get compensation. But the AC sanctioned Rs 1,000 for last rites of Paul and widow pension for his wife.

Now that the bread winner of the family is gone, Paul’s family will have to wait for the Rs 400 widow pension that the Government will provide to his wife.