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In an unusual turn of events, a village that has stood for over 100 years and housed three generations of families with more than 60 households has reportedly been sold to a private individual, leaving its residents in disbelief.
The village in question is Daktara Banjari under Gosani Block in Gajapati district. A pucca road cuts through the middle of the village, flanked by well-built houses with concrete roofs. The village boasts a government primary school and an Anganwadi center for children. Despite these signs of development, the land the village stands on is no longer theirs.
The residents, who have lived here for generations — some for nearly a century — recently discovered that the land they considered home does not legally belong to them. To their shock, the houses, plots, community facilities, and even the government-backed amenities have allegedly been sold off to a single individual.
Once considered proud landowners and guardians of this village, the residents are now grappling with the truth — that their ancestral land has changed hands without their knowledge. The realization has left many in a state of despair, as if the ground beneath their feet has been pulled away.
In a surprising turn of events, the entire village known has reportedly been sold, leading to growing unrest among its long-time residents. According to sources, the village was established nearly 100 years ago on private land measuring approximately 42 acres. The land is officially recorded in the name of M Chandrasekhar Rao, a landlord, under whose ownership the area has remained.
Over the generations, several families have settled in the village, with at least three successive generations having lived there. The population of the village has grown steadily, and most residents have been allotted homes under various government housing schemes. The village enjoys all basic governmental amenities and infrastructure, and the people have been living there peacefully for decades.
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However, ownership of the entire 42-acre land parcel recently changed hands, as the legal heirs of Chandrasekhar reportedly sold the land to a new buyer. The sale has sparked tension as the villagers are now being asked to vacate, something they strongly oppose.
The local administration has now been dragged into the controversy. "Appropriate action will be taken as per mutation laws when the new buyer applies for a formal land transfer (patta)," said Gajapati Collector Bijay Kumar Dash.
Until then, the future of Daktara Banjari village and its residents remains uncertain, caught in a legal and ethical tussle between land ownership and longstanding habitation.
