After the storm in Tiruchendurai, another Tamil Nadu village is now caught in a similar controversy. Residents of Kattukollai in Vellore district have been left shocked after receiving notices declaring their land as Waqf property. The notice, reportedly issued in the name of the Syed Ali Sultan Shah Dargah in February, claims that the land falls under the ownership of the Dargah and is administered by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.
As per the contents of the notice, villagers have been instructed to sign formal agreements with the Waqf Board and begin paying rent to the Dargah. Failing to comply, they are warned, would label their landholdings as encroachments — liable for recovery under Waqf law.
This has triggered fear and outrage among nearly 150 families residing in the village, many of whom say they have tilled this land for over four generations. Dependent entirely on agriculture, the villagers claim they possess valid government-issued documents proving ownership.
In a bid to resist what they see as an arbitrary takeover, the affected villagers, supported by members of the Hindu Munnani, marched to the Vellore District Collector’s office. There, they submitted a memorandum demanding immediate government intervention and clarification of their land rights.
“This land is our only source of livelihood. Now we are being told to vacate or pay rent to the Dargah. We are confused and scared,” said a local farmer.
Hindu Munnani leader Mahesh, who led the protest, questioned the sudden move. “Survey Number 330/1 is now being marked as Waqf property without any prior notice. These families have lived here for decades and possess valid records. We demand that the government issue pattas (ownership certificates) and secure their rights,” he said.
This incident mirrors a 2022 controversy from Tiruchendurai village, where the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board had staked claim to 480 acres of land, including a centuries-old Chola-era temple. Residents there were told they couldn’t sell their land without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Board. That situation was eventually defused following state government intervention.
With tensions rising in Kattukollai, villagers now await a similar resolution — and hope the state doesn’t stay silent.
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