Courts step up charges in land disputes
The number of criminal charges meted out to villagers embroiled in land disputes rose by more than 50 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year, according to figures released by the rights group Adhoc yesterday. The rights group found that the courts charged 475 villagers embroiled in 220 land disputes last year, compared to 306 charges laid in 2010. The number of people that fled their homes for fear of arrest also rose to 335 people, an 88 percent rise compared to 2010. Out of all those who were arrested last year, 133 were charged, 56 were detained and 84 were released…
