Andhra Pradesh News

Pastors in AP grab lands of Dalits to build Church, LRPF comes to the rescue

July 1, 2020
The Commune

In Dorasanipalli village of Proddatur block in Kadapa district, families of Budaga Jangala community, have been threatened and forcefully evicted from their homes by Church pastors to build a Church.

These families have been living on a Poromboke land in make-shift tents, for more than 15 years. Now, the land is being claimed by 2 pastors who are also getting a Church constructed nearby.

The Budaga Jangala community comes under the Scheduled Caste category. Members of this community earn their livelihood by weaving mats, selling itinerant items, fortune-telling and even alms seeking. They go to the nearby villages and town and return to their homes by evening.

The two pastors – Ashok and Krupakar – reportedly started the Church construction illegally and stealthily when the community members were not at their homes. When they were confronted later by some of them, the two pastors hurled abuses at them and got them evicted using force. In the video shared by Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a woman and a man can be seen resisting attempts by the pastors and to get them evicted.

Along with the pastors, revenue officials and police officers can also be seen. It was reported that some of the protestors who took on the pastors were taken to the police station.

LRPF had written to the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Dr Ramshankar Katheriya and the Collector of Kadapa to take strict action against the pastors and those involved. They had met the Collector on July 1 to seek proper accommodation for the marginalized community.  The Church construction has now been halted and revenue authorities have initiated a land survey.