Political interference accentuates the rift

The frustration and alienation breeding in the project-affected persons or bhoomiputras has often erupted with disastrous consequences for the city.

Though government agencies express apprehensions about the increasing dadagiri of the bhoomiputras, political interference has compelled the police to take a lenient attitude towards the offenders.

In March last year, a petty fight between youths from Mathadi colony and Ghansoli villagers following Holi revelry snowballed into group clashes. While one person was killed in the fighting, police firing left two dead.

A year after the riots, bhoomiputras from Belpada village and sector 4 residents of the node clashed over a pigeon, which had been shot down by children.

Though separated by a period of over an year, the reasons behind the two incidents were the same. The gap between gaon wallas and colony wallas has only widened.

“They are constantly observing the developments and feel cheated. They see their lands, acquired for peanuts, being sold for crores. The new residents have prospered while they wallowed in poverty,” social scientists said.

In the backdrop of increasing violence, even those sympathetic to their cause are reticent to justify them. “They complain about their lands being taken, but their prosperity has also occurred due to the acquisition,” a Kharghar resident Diwakar Pandey said.

In the absence of stern action by the police and active encouragement provided by political parties, hooliganism by the villagers, especially youths has taken the colour of extortion.

“In case an autorickshaw rams into your vehicle and you argue with the driver, you would be surrounded by 50 people in no time,” Naveen Saini, a Kamothe resident claims.

In February, refusal by a Kamothe-based builder to allot the material supply contract to bhoomiputras resulted in Peasants and Workers Party collecting 1,000-plus crowd outside the builder’s site. The crowd chanted slogans zameen amala hakkachi, naahi konacha bapachi.

Despite the increase in instances of violence, police has often failed to take action. No action has been initiated against the perpetrators of the Ghansoli violence, while just eight persons involved in the Kharghar riots were arrested.

With no concrete measures to rehabilitate the PAPs, the tension simmering among the bhoomiputras and colony wallahs would continue.