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Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Around 150 families in Kattukollai village have received notices declaring their land as Waqf property, triggering widespread concern among villagers. The notices, issued by the Syed Ali Masjid at Virinchipuram, claim ownership of the village’s land, prompting allegations of overreach by the Waqf Board.
Praveen Kumar, a Hindu Munnani functionary, stated, “Around 150 villagers of Kattukollai village received a notice from Syed Ali Masjid at Virinchipuram. The notice claims that the village’s land belongs to Waqf property. Four generations have been living in Kattukollai, and they have also paid their taxes. We met the Collector, and he assured us that the land belongs to the government and is not Waqf property”.
Another Hindu Munnani functionary, Mahesh, linked the issue to recent legislative changes, saying, “The Waqf Bill has passed recently, and suddenly, they have started asking for tax for land. In Vellore, many villagers are facing similar issues”.
A distressed villager added, “Our land is registered, we have paid water tax, but now we have received a notice saying that the land is Waqf property. 200 families have received this notice”.
On the other side, F. Syed Satham, Hereditary Muthavalli of Kilandal Masjid; Hazrath Syed Ali Sulthan Sha Dargah, Virinchipuram, defended the claims, asserting, “I have given a notice to the villagers who are residing there. I have all the records that belong to our Waqf. It shows that from 1954, the mentioned property belongs to our Waqf. The villagers also know that the land belongs to the Masjid property. We spoke with them. They just have to pay the land rent to us and not the building rent or any other tax. I have planned to submit all these records to the government as well as to our Waqf so that they can take action accordingly”.
The controversy has raised concerns about the Waqf Board claiming villagers’ land, with residents demanding clarity and protection of their property rights.
In Thiruchendurai, Tamil Nadu, the Waqf Board claimed ownership over an entire village, including a 1,500-year-old Hindu temple, halting land sales without its NOC. This alarming case was raised during the Waqf Amendment Bill debate. Now, similar claims by a masjid in Vellore are stoking tensions.
