Budgam land mafia prevents Tehsildar from lifting illegal earth filling

Even after 3 FIRs and 3 sureties, brokers fill up agricultural lands at Ompora

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Even as senior Revenue and Police authorities took notice of the exposè in STATE TIMES and directed the Police and civil administration to initiate action against the people involved in conversion of agricultural lands through illegal means, members of the Budgam land mafia stopped Tehsildar from removing the massive earth dumps from the site in Ompora on Thursday.

Sources said a team of police and civil officials, which included Dy SP, SHO and Tehsildar of Budgam, reached the spot for implementing orders of their higher ups.Tehsildar Suhail Ahmad ordered cutting of the illegally laid roads through a swathe of agricultural lands. He also directed removal of the huge quantities of earth dumped illegally by scores of tippers during the night intervening Tuesday and Wednesday in violation of Agrarian Reforms Act and a slew of orders of a Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Even as the officials erased two illegal approach links under supervision of Tehsildar, one known member of the land brokers network, identified as Bashir Ahmad, physically stopped the Police and Revenue officials from removing the earth filling. He physically got driver of the JCB down and threatened that the officials would have to face "dire consequences" if they removed the earth dumps from the site.

Eyewitnesses said that Police chose to remain a mute spectator and Tehsildar found himself completely helpless. One member of the group, namely Bashir Ahmad Paul, had been arrested by Police on Wednesday after FIR was filed on written orders of Tehsildar of Budgam. All others of the group are still absconding.

"This is all just an eyewash. Those very people who allowed them illegal earth excavation and transportation for unauthorised filling are now filing FIRs and showing as if they are implementing the High Court orders. They have already filed 3 FIRs against same people for same violation earlier this year, sought sureties from the detainees and helped them to secure bail and resume their illegal activity. What's the purpose of this drama? They are all hand-in-glove with one another", said one Ali Mohammad Bhat, a resident of Ompora.

SSP Budgam Fayaz Ahmad Lone has already dispelled the impression of the Police being "hand in glove" with the land brokers. According to him, it is primarily the responsibility of the Revenue Department to stop such violations of land use and implement the High Court orders against conversion of agricultural land for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. "When we receive a complaint, we book these people under FIR and get them arrested. They get bail and indulge in the same activity. Execution of surety and other undertakings is the job of Revenue officials", he said the other day.

Residents told STATE TIMES that none of the families of the land owners, namely Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Ali Mohammad Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, came forward to stop the officials' action. In fact, Mushtaq Wani has filed a complaint to the authorities against the illegal earth filling and land use change. "Only one land broker was seen stopping the Revenue officials in presence of Police from removing the earth dumps", said an eyewitness. He alleged that Tehsildar, SHO and Dy SP surrendered and went back without removing the illegally dumped earth from the spot.

"None of the officials questioned if the front land owners had no objection to lifting back of the earth dumps, how could the brokers who have no locus standi, stop officers from discharging their duty", Ghulam Rasool Wani of Ompora said. "It's clear that once this matter gets cool, these brokers will use the same earth dumps for levelling during a night and sell the plots. This way they raise the colonies on paddy lands and change the land use without permission of the Revenue Minister who is the only competent authority by law to grant such permission".

Only one member of the land grabbers network has been detained by Police while as others were seen attempting to get him released on bail.

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[Published in today's STATE TIMES ]