A day after the CM Harish Rawat announced constitution of a separate wing - Economic Offences Wing - in the police department with focus on dealing with the cases of disproportionate asserts and land related offences, things are not yet clear whether the wing as envisaged by the CM would operate under SIT or Vigilance department or any other.
Two types of economic offences - illegal mining and illegal sale of lands- are now rampant in the State. This aside, many important persons are supposed to possess lands and other properties disproportionate to their known sources of income.
There are also the cases of such persons possessing unnamed lands worth crores. Police are generally inclined to look the other way despite knowing how things are going on. They fear that they would face consequences in case they taken them head-on.
Confusions are running in the department as a clear guideline on the new wing eludes the cops.
A senior police officer said that the new wing should be brought under the vigilance department. “This is because the vigilance department has been dealing with the cases of disproportionate asserts apart from trapping Government officials while accepting bribes from the complainants,” he said.
Special Investigation Team (SIT) can stake the same claim too. It was formed by the State Government to deal with the land disputes a few years ago. “We are dealing with the land mafias who are duping people for their lands. The trend is on the spiral alarmingly as the land prices are spiraling across the state. The CM’s step must be lauded by one and all,” said a SIT official.
Besides, State Government formed Illegal Mining Prevention Vigilance Unit (IMPVU) a few years ago to take on the increasing illegal mining activities in the State. They can also claim that the new wing should operate under their department.
However, observers opine that the wing has been formed to book the rebel Congress MlAs, in particular, who are supposed to possess unnamed lands and other assets disproportionate to their stated sources of income. Besides, the CM is out to expose the journalist who claimed to have made the purported sting that showed him as cutting a deal with the rebels, offering money.
Harish Rawat said repeatedly that the journalist’s assets should be probed into thoroughly. “We are sure that the rebels would face the wrath of the CM now as their conspiracy to oust him from power has proved a fiasco,” an observer said.
Whatever the motive, things are still mired in uncertainties with several departments hazarding guesses over its inclusion. “We hope things would be cleared soon,” said a senior police officer.