JAMMU: In a major anti encroachment drive which send shock waves down the spine of mighty land grabbers, the district administration on Sunday have retrieved huge chunk of prime state land in Phallian Mandal where plotting for illegal colony was underway and demolished several commercial structures which were raised unauthorizedly on encroached state land in Ragoora (Dwara),Sunjawan as well as Bhathindi. The value of retrieved land is running into several crores.
The entire operation was carried successfully as per the planned manner under the supervision of civil and police officers of district administration with strong contingent of CRPF jawans.
The citizens have whole heartedly welcome the move and urged the administration to registered criminal cases against those who constructed buildings on these encroached state land.
Giving details about the land retrieved in the anti encroachment drive, reliable sources in administration said that the district administration has retrieved 200 kanals of land in Phallian Mandal which was allegedly encroached by a former congress minister, 2 kanals land encroached by one Haji Majid around Grand Hill hotel in Ragoora (Dwara) and 45 kanals land in Bhathindi and Sunjawan which was in possession of several notorious land grabbers.
“Though the administration has retrieved 200 kanals of land in Phallian Mandal but strangely it did not touched a piece of 40 kanals state land which is located in between the 200 retrieved land and was sold to one retired IPS officer few years ago by Taj Mohiudin”, alleged sources.
Nearly 35 commercial establishments which were demolished along National Highway in Bhathindi and Sunjawan belong to proxies of some former minister of Congress and National Conference besides a few retired senior police officers.
Those bulldozed includes a huge multi storey commercial building owned by a retired DIG, Jammu and vast commercial structure owned by a former Congress Minister and was constructed only a few months ago on a piece of state land running into several kanals opposite Wave Mall, avers sources.
Its worth to mention here that land mafia has grabbed nearly 2000 kanals of prime state/forest land in Bhathindi and Sunjawan and later earned several crores by selling it to citizens merely on Rs. 10 affidavit.
These land grabbers especially one notorious Tiny enjoyed patronage of police, media and politicians and actively pursuing this unlawful practice of land grabbing for the past several decades with impunity, alleged sources in administration.
Meanwhile, provoked by the land mafia, large number of people gathered at Bhathindi crossing and stage protest demonstration against the anti encroachelment drive and burnt tyres. The police has registered case against unknown person in this regard.
“The land belongs to the state which was encroached upon by land mafia in connivance with past governments and those burning tyres to lodge their protest against demolition of structures in Bhathindi have no stake in these encroached land and merely gathered on spot at the behest of organised land grabbers” asserted a senior officer of revenue department, on condition of anonymity.