SALEM: Residents of Angammal colony here submitted fresh petitions to District Collector K Maharabushanam on Friday, urging him to take action in a land grab case involving former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister Veerapandi S Arumugam.The residents alleged that in January 2008, around 70 families living in the colony, located in a prime area near the Salem New Bus Stand, were forcibly evicted by DMK men led by Suresh Kumar, the nephew of Arumugam. Their houses were subsequently razed. According to them, the land was allotted to them by a noted jeweller in Salem five decades ago. The residents then embarked on a long-drawn legal battle seeking restoration of the lands. Several social activists and movements conducted protests in support of the residents.Later, a writ petition was filed in the Madras High Court. Based on the plea, the HC directed the Commissioner of Police, Salem, to investigate the case.On July 3 2008, the aggrieved parties gave a representation to the then Commissioner of Police. The Revenue Divisional Officer then sought the help of the police for conducting a magisterial inquiry into the issue on July 17, 2008.However, in his inquiry report, Revenue Divisional Officer Bala Gurumoorthy declared that the Angammal Colony land belonged to some other persons. He said that Kousik Boopathy (Personal Assistant of Veerapandi Arumugam) had the power of attorney over the disputed property. As per the Revenue Divisional Officer report, there was no threat to law and order owing to the dispute.Following the report, which the residents claimed to be one-sided, the matter put in cold storage.Meanwhile, a fence was erected around the land and those who attempted to gain entry were stopped by the police. In the complaint filed on Monday, the residents of Angammal Colony made a direct reference to the RDO’s report.They claimed that the Revenue Divisional Officer’s report was based on land documents fabricated by Boopathy and his associates. The report also falsely claimed that the land was lying vacant, they alleged and demanded that the Revenue Divisional Officer’s report be quashed. The Angammal Colony residents also wanted the disputed land to be restored to the residents who were evicted. According to official sources, a decision to send the representation to the Land Grab Cell is yet to be taken owing to the nature of the issue and the fact that a writ petition is pending in the Madras High Court. Veerapandi Arumugam had recently went on record in Tharamangalam, claiming that there were plans to arrest him over the issue.
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