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Govt. charged with forcibly closing Amte's house

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL JUNE 11. The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has alleged that the Madhya Pradesh Government has locked up the residence of the veteran social worker, Baba Amte, at Chhoti Kasravad, in the Nimad area of the Narmada Valley, as part of its "intimidating tactics'' against the Sardar Sarovar dam-affected people.

However, the Badwani district authorities refuted the NBA charge saying that a property dispute had led to the incident.

The NBA has alleged that Baba Amte's house was forcibly locked up on June 9. It said that Baba Amte, now in Anandvan, had written a letter to the District Collector, terming this act as, "mean, disgusting and unjust''. He hoped that there would be no impediments when he returned to his residence.

The NBA said that the Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Governments were bent upon raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) up to 95 metres and hundreds of policemen had already arrived in the SSP-affected villages in the Nimad area of Madhya Pradesh to forcibly displace the people.

It was against this backdrop that on June 9, the administration got Baba Amte's residence, `Nij-Bal', forcibly closed, the NBA alleged, adding that the State Government acted through a local person working as an agent of the administration.

When contacted, the Badwani district Superintendent of Police, Mayank Jain, refuted the NBA charge and told The Hindu that Tulsiram, who originally gave his land to Baba Amte for constructing a house, had put a lock on his door saying that he had given the place to Baba Amte and to no one else. The SP said that police immediately took action under Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

0The Sub-Divisional Magistrate had also attached the property under Section 146 CrPC and was appointing a receiver for it.

As far as criminal trespass is concerned, Mr. Jain said police had registered cases.

Tulsi Ram and four accomplices were also arrested but later released on bail.

A delegation of eminent citizens of Badwani and members of the `Baba Amte Nivas construction committee' earlier met the Superintendent of Police to protest.

Baba Amte stayed at Nij Bal on the banks of the Narmada for more than 11 years before he went to Anandvan to express full solidarity with those affected by the Inchampalli Dam, which affects villagers affected in Andhra Pradesh and Mahahrashtra.

It was in March 1990 that Baba Amte had moved from his previous ashram to live on the banks of the Narmada and lend support to the Narmada struggle.

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