German ecologist's Bhimtal home under siege

German ecologist's Bhimtal home under siege
MERU GOKHALE

BHIMTAL, OCTOBER 14: The idyllic hills looming large over June Estate in Bhimtal, Nainital district are deceptively calm. Inside June Estate lies Frederick Smetacek Jr., a German ecologist who was born and brought up here, and who's spent a lifetime protecting the trees, birds and animals in the area.

Today, Smetacek Jr. is virtually a hostage in his own home, amongst a rare and priceless collection of butterflies from the world over. On October 4, 16 armed men broke into the annexe to his home which he had restored earlier this year and occupied it. They claim that the main house in which Smetacek lives, just ten yards away from the annexe, belongs to them. Smetacek, who lives alone, was in no position to defend himself. He suffers from neurocysticercosis, and has been immobilised because of a broken hip for over an year.

The armed men, who're dressed in uniform, claimed they're from a ``private security agency''. They said they worked for Dharmendra Pratap Singh, the Maharaja of Balrampur (Western UP). Singh, who's the President of the UP chapter of the World Wildlife Fund-India, claims that the bungalow belongsto him, and that his men had been living there since May.

However, Smetacek has documentary evidence to show that he's been living here, including ownership papers, electricity bills, water connection charges and house tax receipts dating back to 1980. In addition, several witnesses, including guests who have stayed in the house after May, dispute the claim.

The administration insists it's a ``land dispute'' between two parties. But there's no precedent to this, no case pending in a court somewhere. One of the Maharaja's employees, D.B. Singh, confirms this, and says ``we do not see the need to show our papers''.

The local police can't do anything since the area is under the jurisdiction of the local patwari, Mahesh Lal. Though the 48-year-old Smetacek is seriously ill and immobile, the patwari didn't feel it necessary to take any action. In desperation, Smetacek telephoned the District Magistrate, Aradhana Shukla, who confirmed that Smetacek had spoken to her. She has spoken to the police to ensure that `law and order is being maintained'. ``I have to check on whose house it is after all,'' she said.

S.K. Sharma, chairperson of the Uttarakhand Human Rights Society, commented, ``They are taking advantage of an ailing person. From the documents, there's no doubt about who's in actual possession of the house. If there's a dispute, they must show their papers and the case must be settled in court. The authorities should not allow this kind of goondaism to undermine the law.''