Farmers face legal action for tilling Waqf land in Karnataka’s Thimmasandra village

Police case against farmers for tilling land claimed by Waqf Board in Karnataka

Karnataka Police filed a complaint against farmers on Friday for tilling land claimed by the Waqf Board in Thimmasandra village, located in Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapura district. The incident has sparked tensions in the village, with heated arguments between the farmers and a group of local residents. Police intervened promptly to control the situation and manage the opposing groups, which were supporting either the farmers or the Waqf Board.

Given the seriousness of the situation, Chikkaballapura SP Kushal Chouksey and Additional SP Kasim Raja rushed to the village. Additional police forces have been deployed to maintain order in the area.

According to police reports, the Jamia mosque leadership had fenced the disputed property and placed a signboard asserting ownership, backed by a court order claiming the land as Waqf property. However, villagers, including Nagesh, Sriram Reddy, and Ramaiah, dispute this claim, asserting ownership of the land and challenging the land records that list the property as Waqf-owned. These villagers began tilling the land with a tractor, prompting a group of Muslim youths to gather and question their actions.

A police team, led by DySP, was dispatched to the scene to disperse the crowd. Authorities have instructed both groups to submit property documents for review.

Following the incident, members of the Waqf Board filed a formal complaint against the farmers. Sources have confirmed that an FIR has been registered against the farmers under Sections 324(4) and 329(3) of the BNS Act, though the police have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.

Land records indicate that agricultural plots in survey numbers 13/1 (2.21 acres), 13/3 (20 guntas), and 20 (1.36 acres) are listed as Waqf property. This has led to significant anger among the local farmers, who are now facing the prospect of losing land they consider their own, escalating tensions in the village.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Bidar South, Shailendra Beldale, announced plans to launch a ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ protest against the Waqf Board’s land claims in Bidar district. Beldale accused the Waqf Board of illegally claiming thousands of acres, including fertile agricultural land, historical monuments, and government properties, under the current Waqf law.

Sources indicate that the Waqf Board has staked a claim on 13,295 acres of land in Bidar, including government hospitals and tourist sites, and has already fenced off 217 acres. In its submission to district authorities, the Waqf Board listed 2,747 institutes and 3,882 properties as Waqf land in Bidar district. The controversy continues to stir political and public opposition, with many questioning the legal and procedural validity of these claims.

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