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Karnataka: Waqf Board lays claim to 70 heritage sites, including Tipu Armoury, ASI building, and govt lands in Srirangapatna

More than 70 properties in Srirangapatna taluk, including government-owned lands, historic monuments like the iconic Tipu Armoury, and buildings under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage, have been recorded as Waqf Board properties in official RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) documents.

Months after outrage over the Waqf Board swallowing over 1,200 acres of farmland in Vijaypura, Karnataka, a similar kind of stunning claim is made for the government properties in the historic town of Srirangapatna, a report published in Star Of Mysore said.

More than 70 properties in Srirangapatna taluk, including government-owned lands, historic monuments like the iconic Tipu Armoury, and buildings under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage, have been recorded as Waqf Board properties in official RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) documents, the report said.

Interestingly, even the Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage building — the Sri Chamarajendra Memorial Government Museum in Srirangapatna — has been listed as Waqf property. Besides, several agricultural plots owned by farmers in Srirangapatna town and taluk have also been listed as properties belonging to the Karnataka State Waqf Board, sparking concerns among farmers.

In addition to this, the Waqf Board has also laid claim to the Chikkamma Chikkadevi Temple in Mahadevpura village and a government school in Chandagalu village, not only raising eyebrows but also triggering serious discussions about how to tackle the menace.

The claims over heritage sites and government lands come months after farmers in Vijaypura, Karnataka, received notices stating that their lands belonged to the Waqf board. The controversy concerned 1,200 acres in Honwada village, Tikota taluk, with farmers claiming that officials were attempting to designate the area as the Shah Aminuddin Dargah, a religious institution.

“The notice claimed that the land belonged to Shah Aminuddin Dargah, but this dargah hasn’t existed for centuries, and our families have owned this land for generations. Around 41 farmers have received notices, asking them to provide ownership records, but we are the rightful owners. If the government doesn’t withdraw these notices, we will launch a massive protest,” Suneel Shankarappa Tudigal, vice president of Honwada gram panchayat, had said.

Following outrage by farmers, the Karnataka government was forced to write to all Regional Commissioners and District Commissioners related to the Waqf issue.

The letter warned of disciplinary action against officials, who alter land mutation records and issue eviction notices to farmers under the Waqf Act.

The order issued on November 9 asked to withdraw all notices served to farmers and to immediately take back the land mutation orders served by any authority and also to stop mutation work.

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