DHANBAD, March 14 -- Lok Sabha member from Dhanbad Dhullu Mahto has once again found himself at the centre of a controversy following allegations of land encroachment raised by local residents in separate areas of the district. While complainants have accused the BJP MP of attempting to take over land, Mahto has dismissed the charges as a politically motivated conspiracy by his opponents.

The first dispute has emerged in Darida Mauja in Baghmara Assembly constituency, where several raiyats have alleged that a boundary wall allegedly constructed at the behest of the MP is obstructing traditional access routes to their land. The villagers claim they have been raising the issue since 2017-18 but have not received any concrete relief from th...