Sonbhadra ‘Land Jihad’: Muslims from Other States Marry ST Women, Usurp Land Worth Crores; Demographics Changing

Representative Image

A nefarious scheme involving the usurpation of land by using tribal women as pawns has come to light in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Individuals hailing from outside the state have seized control of approximately 15 bighas of government land through a combination of marriage and fraudulent activities. The administration has now taken decisive action against this illegal encroachment and has reclaimed the land.

In the Dudhi Tehsil of Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, Muslim men arriving from other states have usurped land worth crores by marrying local women belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST). These individuals—who arrived from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar—executed benami (proxy) land registrations in the names of tribal women and subsequently altered the local demographics by settling their own relatives in the area.

The primary objective behind this entire conspiracy was to seize control of land specifically reserved for tribal communities, as existing regulations stipulate that land designated for tribals can only be purchased by another tribal individual. Following an investigation, the administration has reclaimed the 15 bighas of land and has initiated strict legal action against the prime accused.

Proxy Land Registrations Under the Guise of Marriage

The investigation revealed that individuals such as Bahadur Ali, Siraj, and Tanveer entered into Nikah (Islamic marriage) with tribal women, yet deliberately retained the women’s Hindu names in all official documents. Bahadur Ali, for instance, purchased land across 19 different locations in the name of his wife, Dulari, and subsequently settled his close associates on 17 bighas of this land.

Similarly, Tanveer married a woman named Kunthi Jagte and proceeded to settle people from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in the area by constructing shops and residential homes for them. This entire illicit operation was conducted on paper under the names of tribal individuals, while the actual control and ownership remained in the hands of others.

Demographics Altered by Settling Outsiders

Over the past few years, there has been a sudden and significant surge in the number of families residing in Baghadu village—located within the Dudhi region—and its surrounding areas. It is alleged that this influx, which initially began with just two families, has now expanded to encompass 200 families and a total population of 1,000 individuals. These activities intensified during the displacement phase of the Kanhar Dam project.

An individual named Siraj acquired land in the name of a woman named Nanki and subsequently settled people from other states on it. Local residents allege that the names of tribal individuals were used for land registration purposes after paying them only a meager sum.

The victim, a young woman named Renu Kumari, alleged that individuals such as Nasimuddin and Abdul Subhan were pressuring her to marry them and were stalking her. After her release from jail, she also received death threats. According to Renu, all of this was part of a conspiracy to usurp her land.

Meanwhile, Sharif Jugnu encroached upon land belonging to a tribal man named Mangal Singh. Given the gravity of the matter, the administration has so far reclaimed 15 bighas of land, reverting ownership to the government; furthermore, the noose is tightening around other suspects, including the alleged mastermind, Bahadur Ali.

The noose is tightening around Bahadur Ali and other suspects.

Bahadur Ali is the Ringleader

Bahadur Ali is alleged to be the ringleader behind this entire affair. It is alleged that, following the rape of a tribal woman, he entered into a court marriage with her and subsequently used this union as a cover to orchestrate a scheme involving land grabs.

It is further claimed that Bahadur Ali intended to arrange his son’s marriage to Rajni so that tribal lands could be purchased in her name as well. Speaking out on this issue, the tribal woman, Renu Kumari, stated unequivocally that this entire conspiracy was hatched with the sole objective of usurping tribal lands.

According to the complainant, a specific pattern had been prevailing in the area for a long time: first, purchase land in the name of a tribal individual; second, take possession of the land and settle on it; and finally, during the official land survey, secure a statement in one’s own favor from the nominal owner to facilitate the transfer of the land into one’s own name.