A section of people of Seiyamangalam village in Budalur block has submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Monday alleging usurpation of ‘public land’ at the hamlet by an individual.

In the memorandum, the residents pointed out that around 41 cents of land was hitherto being used by the villagers for conducting village temple festival. When a group of villagers attempted to clean the site ahead of the festival this year, it was prevented by an individual who claimed that it was his ‘patta’ land and no one could use the same for organising any event.

Irked by the claim, the residents crossed checked with the Sub-Registrar Office, Thirukkattuppalli and found that the said land had been registered in the name of an individual.

As the legal heirs of the family that had bequeathed the land for public purpose have said that they did not know about the land transaction, the villagers approached the district administration to initiate legal steps against those involved in the “fraudulent land transaction” and restore the right of the villagers to use the site for the conduct of the temple festival.