In a shocking incident in Mathura district's Khushpura village, an elderly farmer named Satyabhan mysteriously caught fire during a Revenue Department team's attempt to evict him and his family from encroached land belonging to the Khandsari Cooperative Society. The event unfolded under the Jaint police station area, prompting immediate medical attention for Satyabhan at SN Medical College in Agra and his daughter-in-law Lalitesh at the district hospital after she sustained burns while trying to save him.

District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh reported that the family had occupied a hut on the land for decades, and the team, including Naib Tehsildar Anmol Garg, kanungo Rajendra, and lekhpal Kapil, arrived with police to execute the eviction.

Tensions escalated as family members protested and villagers gathered, leading to the sudden blaze under suspicious circumstances. Satyabhan's son, Pushpraj, alleged that some locals sprinkled diesel on the hut and set it ablaze, motivated by intentions to sell the land where the family has resided for over 30 years. He demanded legal action against the accused.

In response, the DM suspended the kanungo and lekhpal for negligence and tasked Additional District Magistrate Pankaj Tripathi with a 24-hour probe, highlighting administrative lapses amid the chaos where the team and villagers rushed to extinguish the flames.

This case underscores ongoing land encroachment challenges in Uttar Pradesh, where rural disputes often involve cooperative societies and revenue drives to reclaim public land. Mathura, known for its agricultural belts and religious sites, has seen a spike in such evictions, with over 500 similar actions in the district during 2024-25 aimed at freeing government and cooperative properties from illegal occupations. Farmer unions have criticized these operations for lacking empathy, especially for long-term settlers, sometimes leading to violent confrontations or self-harm protests.

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Broader context reveals that UP's revenue department has intensified anti-encroachment campaigns under state directives, recovering thousands of acres in recent years to support development projects like highways and industrial zones. However, incidents like this raise concerns over procedural fairness, with activists calling for better rehabilitation options for affected families. The Mathura administration's swift suspensions signal accountability, but Pushpraj's accusations point to potential foul play involving local rivalries, warranting a thorough investigation to prevent escalation in this sensitive region.

Authorities are now monitoring the situation to maintain order, with police increasing patrols in Khushpura to deter any backlash. The probe's outcome could influence future eviction protocols, emphasizing the need for non-confrontational approaches in densely populated villages where land rights remain contentious.

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