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Bogus land salesmen make hay while owners are away
By Hiran Priyankara
Residents who went to challenge some bogus land salesmen attempting to clear a 126-acre coconut land belonging to a plantation company in the Thanavilluwa village in Chilaw recently were allegedly attacked by the salesmen.

The villagers whose furniture too was allegedly damaged by the gang said attackers were supporters of those who were attempting to clear the neglected land, which had been once a lush coconut plantation.
Most large-scale lands in the area were now abandoned, resulting in land salesmen drawing up bogus deeds in an attempt to sell them to unsuspecting buyers.

These dealers allegedly enjoyed political patronage to brazenly operate unhindered, residents said. Residents claimed that these dealers had even attempted to mislead courts, going to the extent of drawing up bogus deeds and filing action in courts. Among those thus affected were two villagers to whom they had promised to give the relevant deeds, they claimed.

Such a case came up before Puttalam District Court Magistrate Amal Tillekeratne, who stayed the transaction of any business by the plantation company in question till the matter was settled by court.

Villagers claimed that the businessmen had taken cover under this court ruling and were clearing the lands using bulldozers. The land was vested in the company by the Land Reforms Commission.

Puttalam Police gave an assurance to the protesting villagers that all clearing would be stopped till April 17. But residents claimed that the police failed to take action against those who attacked them on April 10, while three of the victims were being still treated at the Puttalam Hospital. They complained of police inactivity even after statements were recorded from the alleged attackers and the victims.

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