The State WAQF Board of Directors issued tensions to the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, sending eviction notices to about 150 families in Kottukollai Village, Anaikattu Taluk, claiming that the entire village is WAQF property. The notices caused panic among villagers, many of whom said they lived for generations and owned legal documents for their land.
according to India todaythe notice was issued by Syed Ali Sultan Shah, the statement said that according to the 330/1 investigation, the land in question belongs to the local Dargah and all residents must evacuate immediately. The development shocked villagers held a protest outside the office of the Vellore area collector on April 15, urging the government to intervene and protect their homes and livelihoods.
“We have lived here for four generations. Our ancestors cultivated the land. We even have Patta documents issued by the government,” a resident said during the protest.
Mahesh, the Hindu Munani leader who joined the villagers, asked the regional authorities to be clear. “If requested, the government must conduct a thorough investigation. The government should issue pata to residents and protect their right to live peacefully,” he told reporters.
The dispute is the latest in a series of land ownership disputes involving the WAQF board of Tamil Nadu. With legal complexity and public sentiment increasing, officials are now facing pressure to resolve the issue transparently and prevent further unrest.
As of now, the regional government has not issued an official statement on the matter. Villagers remain outside collectors, seeking assurance that they will not be forced to evacuate the land they have called for decades.
