Land acquisition in Nashik: Will raise in Parliament issue of farmers getting beaten up, says Raut

Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said he will raise in Parliament the alleged beating up of farmers in connection with a land acquisition process in Mungsare area of Nashik district. On May 2, clashes had erupted between farmers and those conducting a measurement process for land acquisition connected to the proposed Nashik Parikrama Marg Ring Road.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said he will raise in Parliament the alleged beating up of farmers in connection with a land acquisition process in Mungsare area of Nashik district. On May 2, clashes had erupted between farmers and those conducting a measurement process for land acquisition connected to the proposed Nashik Parikrama Marg (Ring Road). Farmers have alleged that officials and police entered their homes and beat up kin, including women and children. ''The acquisition of land for the proposed Nashik Parikrama Marg (Ring Road) for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela is under pressure from builders. I will raise the Mungsare incident in Parliament,'' Raut told reporters here. Raut said he had led a delegation to the office of assistant collector GVS Pavandatta, who has been accused of beating up farmers during the land acquisition process, but the latter ''escaped through the antechamber''. Raut, who held a meeting with collector Ayush Prasad, said he had raised the issue with the latter. Prasad has issued a notice to Pavandatta, Raut claimed. ''The government cannot take the lands of farmers forcibly for the ring road. Elderly farmer Kamalabai Khirkade's land has been acquired for various projects five times till date. I have also told the collector to change the alignment of the road,'' Raut informed. The land acquisition proceedings for the proposed Nashik Parikrama Marg (Ring Road) project mainly affects Govardhan, Chandi, Sarul, Jalalpur, Mahadevpur, Rajurbahula, Matori, Mungsare, Makhamalabad and Dhakambe villages.