Tensions flared in Kattukollai village of Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district after nearly 150 families received notices declaring their land as Waqf property, triggering protests and appeals to district authorities.
The notices were issued by the Kilandai Masjid and the Hazarath Syed Ali Sultan Sha Dargah in Virinchipuram, located about four kilometres from the village. The villagers, many of whom say they have lived on the land for four generations, state they have proper registration documents and tax receipts, and have submitted a petition to Vellore District Collector V R Subbulaxmi seeking intervention.
The Hindu Munnani, a Hindu nationalist organisation, has mobilised support for the villagers and joined them in filing the petition. Speaking to ANI, Hindu Munnani’s Vellore District functionary Praveen Kumar said, “People have paid taxes and electricity bills for decades. One resident’s attempt to get a Patta (land ownership document) was reportedly blocked by the Jamaat.”
Villagers have also alleged that electricity supply to some homes has been cut off following the issuance of the notices. “We met the Collector last Thursday, and she assured us that the land belongs to the government and not the Waqf,” Kumar added.
However, Syed Sadam, the Mutawalli (custodian) of the Dargah, maintained that the land has been recorded as Waqf property since 1954 in official gazette records. “I have given a notice to the villagers who are residing there. I have all the records that belong to our Waqf. It shows that from 1954, the mentioned property belongs to our Waqf. The villagers also know that the land belongs to the Masjid property. We spoke with them. They just have to pay the land rent to us and not the building rent or any other tax…I have given a notice to them to pay the land rent to us. I have planned to submit all these records to the government as well as to our Waqf so that they can take action accordingly…,” Sadam said, adding that the villagers are being asked to pay land rent, not building rent, to the Waqf board.
#WATCH | Vellore, Tamil Nadu: F. Syed Satham, Hereditary Muthavalli, Kilandal (Nawab) Masjid & Hazrath Syed Ali Sulthan Sha Dargah, Virinchipuram says “I have given a notice to the villageers who are residing there. I have all the records that belong to our Waqf. It shows that… pic.twitter.com/oMWIi5hlIn
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2025
He further alleged inaction by authorities, claiming that his father had submitted petitions to the government as early as 1991 to prevent illegal land registrations, but no substantial action was taken.
The District Collector has acknowledged receipt of the villagers’ petition and confirmed that an inquiry is underway to verify the ownership status of the land. The situation continues to develop as both sides prepare to present their documentation to the authorities.
(With inputs from ANI)
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