Salt Lake, September 09: Padma Shri awardee and renowned Baul singer Purna Das Baul and his son, Dibyendu Das Baul, approached West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during his Janata Darbar in Salt Lake on Wednesday, seeking government intervention over two plots of land they allege have been encroached upon in Birbhum.
The father-son duo claimed that their family has been unable to regain possession of properties located in Ilambazar and Santiniketan. According to them, one of the disputed plots at Kamarpara in Ilambazar was purchased by their family in 1977.
They further alleged that another plot in Santiniketan, which had originally been gifted to Purna Das Baul's father by Rabindranath Tagore for establishing an akhara, or traditional performance space, is also under alleged illegal occupation.
Purna Das Baul and Dibyendu Das Baul attended the Janata Darbar with a request that the two properties be recovered and returned to the family.
During their interaction, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reportedly contacted the Birbhum District Magistrate over the phone and directed him to take steps to ensure the recovery of the disputed properties in Santiniketan and Ilambazar.
Dibyendu said the Chief Minister told them that they did not need to travel to Salt Lake for the matter and that he was already aware of the issue.
The family had earlier submitted a written complaint at the office of the Birbhum District Magistrate on August 18. On that occasion, Dibyendu had named TMC leader Anubrata Mondal and former minister Chandranath Sinha while making allegations related to the land dispute.
However, he chose not to name any individual during Wednesday's interaction with the Chief Minister.
Dibyendu said their primary objective was not to accuse a particular person but to secure the return of their family properties.
"We simply want our lands returned," he said.
Purna Das Baul, however, did not speak to reporters after the meeting.
The noted Baul singer had earlier written several letters to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, requesting government intervention and the recovery of the disputed land.
The latest appeal before Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has once again brought the alleged land encroachment issue involving the Baul singer's family into focus.
