Garhwal Range IG/DIG Sanjay Kumar Gunjyal reviewed land dispute cases with Special Investigation Cell (SIT) police officers on Friday. FIRs were lodged on four complaints received at various police stations after they were found needing investigation. In the meeting, it was revealed that in 2014, a total of 39 complaints related to land disputes were reported while a single complaint of land dispute was reported this year so far and investigating officer is looking into this matter.
Out of 39 land dispute cases reported in the last year, four were registered in the police station concerned after they were found investigation worthy. In ten land dispute cases, complainants were given possession of land through negotiation between the parties concerned. One case was found fabricated in course of the investigation, it was learnt.
In their written complaints, applicants Yashpal Singh Kathait and Mukesh Kumar Rawat, residents of Karnprayag, Chamoli stated that Jitendra Mohan Semwal, resident of Kargi Chowk, had given advertisement in the name of ‘Semwal Realty Services’ in various print media, saying that they would provide land at cheapest rate.
Semwal had provided a piece of land to Mukesh for Rs5.9 lakh while the same was provided to Yashpal for Rs six lakh. SIT investigating officer probed the complaints and a case under appropriate sections of IPC was registered against the accused in Doiwala Police Station. Gunjyal said that there has been an alarming increase in cases related to false registration of private and government lands, illegal encroachments of lands and other land disputes in Dehradun, Haridwar and other parts in the Range. Enormous rise in land prices in the State capital has spawned the land mafia.
Following the direction of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed at range level to deal with the land disputes, he added.