Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Latur police have resolved 663 agriculture and land-related complaints under their innovative “Police at Farmers’ Doorstep” initiative in an effort to prevent rural disputes from escalating into criminal cases and prolonged legal battles. The campaign was held between March 16 and May 30 this year.
Initiative Brings Policing to Farmers
Latur superintendent of police (SP) Amol Tambe said the initiative was designed to bring policing services directly to farmers by addressing their grievances at the grassroots level. The focus was on resolving long-pending disputes through dialogue, counselling and mediation, he said. Regular village visits and outreach efforts helped settle agricultural disputes amicably.
“Farmers are the backbone of our society and economy, and timely resolution of their issues is a shared responsibility. Through this initiative, we have not only resolved complaints but also strengthened trust between the police and citizens,” Tambe said, adding that regular village visits and outreach efforts helped settle agricultural disputes amicably, fostering peace, harmony and respect for the law in rural areas. “The initiative will continue with greater efficiency in the future,” he said.
Breakdown of Resolved Cases
Of the 663 cases resolved, 119 were related to ownership and cultivation rights, 136 involved farm boundary disputes, 49 pertained to water rights and distribution, 50 were about land measurement issues, 57 involved land partition disputes and 10 were linked to crop harvesting. Additionally, 33 other agriculture-related complaints were also settled during the drive, Tambe said.
Police officers said farmers frequently faced disputes related to access roads, encroachments, water sharing, land ownership, cultivation rights and family disagreements tied to agricultural land. Traditionally, resolving such issues required multiple visits to police stations and government offices, often leading to delays and inconvenience, they said.
Outreach and Mediation
“To address this, teams from across the district conducted an extensive outreach drive, visiting villages, agricultural fields and farm boundaries to directly engage with farmers. During the campaign, officers covered 1,002 villages across Latur district, recording and addressing complaints on the spot,” an officer said. Many disputes were resolved immediately through counselling and mediation after hearing both sides. This approach not only prevented escalation into law-and-order issues but also reduced the likelihood of cases reaching courts.
Police officers said the initiative helped maintain social harmony in the rural areas. The officers said the initiative significantly helped in resolving conflicts before they turned into serious offences, saving farmers time and money while maintaining social harmony in rural areas. Latur additional SP Mangesh Chavan said the campaign received an encouraging response, with farmers appreciating the police department’s proactive, grassroots-level approach to addressing their concerns.
