After a long wait of 46 years, the family of Tulsiram, who lost their land during the violence against Hindus in 1978 in Sambhal, has finally received justice in a landmark development. On 14th January, the Sambhal administration facilitated the transfer of possession of 10,000 square feet of land back to Tulsiram’s family. Tulsiram, a member of the Mali community, was killed in the violence in 1978. His three sons along with their families had to leave the place.
Currently, a school called “Jannat Nisha” was running on this land which has now been returned to Tulsiram’s heirs. The transfer was carried out in cooperation with the Revenue Department and police administration under tight security. Reports said that Sambhal’s SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) Vandana Mishra and ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) Shreesh Chandra conducted a survey of revenue records to determine the ground reality. The probe found that of the 15,000 square feet of land, 10,000 square feet actually belonged to Tulsiram’s family. The administration then handed over the ownership of the land to Tulsiram’s grandson Amrish Kumar and his family.
Throughout the process, the owner of Jannat Nisha School, Dr Mohammad Shawez, claimed that his father, Dr Zubair had purchased the property in 1976, that is, before the violence against Hindus. However, he could not provide sufficient evidence when the government demanded documented proof. A portion of the land was mistakenly identified as a fire station, among other irregularities in the land records that officials found. Vandana Mishra stated that more legal action would be carried out, highlighting that the documents had been manipulated and were recorded with malicious intent.
Amrish Kumar, Tulsiram’s grandson, pointed out that years of effort have led to justice and shared, “Our land was snatched from us and my grandfather was killed in the riots. We were informed that the land was no longer ours whenever we attempted to return. Justice has been served to us by the administration today.”
Asha Devi, a family member, elaborated, “We lost our temple in addition to our land. We suffered the loss of our identities and loved ones during the violence. For the first time, someone has actually paid attention to us.” It is important to note that valuable properties in prime areas were unlawfully occupied following the Sambhal violence against Hindus. The administration’s action is seen as a significant step in the fight against these illegal encroachments.
Affected families petitioned the government to restore their property rights after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath brought up the Sambhal violence in the state assembly. The government responded by giving Tulsiram’s family back 10,000 square feet of land after 46 years. Officials further disclosed that after the violence, Hindu families were compelled to leave their homes. The government has also made sure that Tulsiram’s family receives protection once they have reclaimed their land, to avoid any unfortunate event. Additionally, the authorities have made it clear that every complaint will be handled carefully and that the war against illegal encroachments will continue.