Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 28: How much powerful is the nexus of politicians’ and land mafia turned in our country, can be well gauged from the fact that even the premier agency of the country CBI has been forced to stop work on its residential colony at Channi Rama here for which the land was purchased by the Government agency-Jammu Development Authority (JDA) for Rs 2 crore.
Some hired men working in the fore front for the alleged land-mafia, dared to allegedly beat-up workers and masons at the colony last evening and stopped the work on the CBI Colony in Jammu, claiming that there was stay on the land and it belonged to them. A man claimed himself as owner of that land and showed stay order from the court while others started beating up and pulling up the poor workers. They also damaged the structures being constructed on the 9 kanal land.
When the senior officials from the CBI reached there, the hired goons had vanished after completion of their task. The matter was also brought to the notice of concerned police and the workers did not return to work today. One can well imagine the fate of a common man at the hands of powerful land-mafia today, if they can dare to encroach upon the CBI land. The agency has been forced to stop the work ahead on the proposed colony.
Sources said that land measuring 9 kanals under Khasra No. 328 at Channi Rama was purchased by CBI from JDA in June 2006, After completion of all formalities, lease deed between JDA and CBI was executed on August 16, 2011 and the same was registered in the court of Sub-Registrar Jammu on October 12, 2011. Secretary JDA, vide his letter No. JDA/ LS/5981-85 dated 21-10-2011, directed the Executive Engineer JDA to handover the possession of the land measuring 9 kanals to CBI. Accordingly the JDA handed over the possession of the said land (9 kanals) to the CBI on November 12, 2011. The boundary wall and construction work was started by the agency through CPWD recently.
A senior CBI officer when contacted this evening told the Excelsior that the CBI paid Rs 2 crore to JDA for the said land. If there was some dispute or any litigation, the JDA officials should have told clearly. “We are surprised over the approach of some senior JDA officials. After this incident of attack by some men on workers engaged at CBI Colony yesterday, we contacted them. They claim that land status was clear. Now, if the status was clear what was this happening with our workers. They have to take the responsibility. And if this is happening with the agency like CBI what will be the fate of common man in this country,” he maintained.
Responding to another question, he said interestingly no body came forward when demarcation of land took place and possession was taken. It happened twice. Now when work was started, they entered the premises, claiming that court has given status quo orders. “We respect the court directive. We will abide by that but court never gives such liberty to anybody to go and start beating people taking law in own lands. They should have come to the concerned agency officials,” he maintained.
He said funds to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore were sanctioned by the Union Government for construction of this Colony at Jammu. Most of the officials are living in rented accommodation here and facing lot of hardships. Now, they will suffer in view of litigation for no fault of the CBI which paid full and final amount to JDA and went for all required legal formalities, he added.
Secretary JDA, Yousuf Choudhary, when contacted said that there was total 199 kanals of land under Khsara No. 328 at Chhanni Himmat. He said 9 kanal of land was provided to CBI for Rs 2 crore. He claimed that land status was clear and the possession of the said land was also handed over the agency people last year. The secretary further said that land grabbing has become headache for the JDA too, as land mafia men have encroached upon its land at many places. He said the JDA itself was facing many such cases in the court of law.