Woes of Madar-e-Meherban Urdu

Matharu Pasha and other land grabbers, are attempting to sell off the land belonging to Idara Adbiyat-e-Urdu, Aiwan-e-Urdu, at Karab Bagh, Golconda Fort, Hyderabad. The land belongs to a Society that is dedicated to the promotion of and research on Urdu language and culture.

A “Committee for Protection of Land Owned by Idara Adbiyath-e-Urdu” was formed, with members drawn from Literary Associations, writers, Journalists, Human Rights and Civil Liberties groups, and Lok Satta. The committee visited the place on 10-2-2005 for inspection of the land and the circumstances there. The land grabbers Matharu Pash and his accomplice, who have an eye over this land for a long time, have threatened the Committee members with dire consequences.

In spite of the status quo order from the III Additional Chief Judge in City Civil Courts prohibiting occupation and dealings of any kind, the land grabbers have started construction on the site.

The Committee, headed by M.T.Khan, represented to Commissioner of Police, DCP West Zone, ACP-Asifnagar Division, and finally to the Home Minister. Nothing came of the representations. This prolonged indifference on the part of the police department only strengthened the public perception in this area that the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Asif Nagar Division was conniving with the land grabbers and was misleading the higher authorities.(This ACP has since retired from service.) In the public perception, corruption in the police department seems to be high on the list of the accused in this issue. The ACP was seen as responsible for increased landgrabbing in Asif Nagar Division.

Even a child in the old city knows that land grabbing does not happen without the active support of the local elected representatives.