Domri Village Residents Protest Municipal Corporation’s Land Grabbing for Tree Plantation

A tense standoff has developed in Domri village, Uttar Pradesh, as residents protest the municipal corporation’s decision to plant trees on land they claim is theirs. The corporation has identified 350 bighas of land for afforestation and has already begun removing structures. The farmers, primarily from the Nishad (Sahni) Rajbhar and Patel communities, assert they have land ownership documents. However, the corporation has reportedly disregarded these claims, leading to the demolition of homes and the removal of personal belongings. The villagers are also alleging instances of verbal abuse and harassment by the municipal officials. A farmer named Mallu stated that the land is their livelihood, and their names are recorded in the land records. The corporation’s response is that the land is a designated area for tree plantation and is officially categorized as government property.