STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a brazen act of politico-official-land grabbers nexus, 30 kanals of land has been grabbed by chronic grabbers in Village Seora on Kunjwani-Bishnah Road by resorting to forgery, deceit and violation of norms. The grabbers have even crossed all limits of civilized behaviour by desecrating graves to pave way for the plots carved out of the grabbed land, which are being sold on whopping rates.
Already having attained dubious distinction of being safe haven for land grabbers, Jammu is witnessing novel and innovative modes being employed by the grabbers to grab prime land in connivance with politicians, Revenue officials and police. For them, flouting of norms is common, courtesy patronage of influential politicians and officials of various departments related to land management.
In the instant case, the passage to the grabbed plot has been carved out by damaging and desecrating graves, allegedly in connivance with some officials of the Auqaf department.
The master-mind of the plot, a known forger already involved in Rs 3 crore-excise scam, is reported to have adopted a novel mechanism to cover up his misdeeds by roping in a ‘multi-millionaire’ retired Superintendent of Police to facilitate the sale of the plots, carved out in the grabbed 30 kanals of land, between Rs 18 and Rs 20 lakhs per kanal. It may be recalled that the excise scam is still hanging balance between the Crime Branch and State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) and there seems to be no headway in sight due to political pressure.
Obviously, the superannuated police officer is also providing him much required shield from the law enforcing agencies by using his clout. The excise-scammer along with a lawmaker from the ruling party had been jailed also in connection with the scam.
Despite being in know of the concerned government departments, the high ups have preferred to either look to the other side or close their eyes-for obvious reasons.
According to reports, the land grabbers had purchased over 30 kanals of agriculture land at throw away prices on forged/fake documents to carve out plots by violating Agrarian Act in connivance with some unscrupulous officials of the Revenue Department. The land, having High Tension Wire (HTW) passing through it, had no access road. While braving the obstacle of carving out plots in the land having HTW-prohibited for construction purposes’-the grabbers desecrated several graves in connivance of some officials of the Auqaf Department, to reach out to the plots.