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 and other parts of the State. Tremendous rise in land prices in the State Capital that has spawned the land mafia may be the reason for the increase in such incidents. Sanjay Gunjyal after assuming charge of DIG, Garhwal Range said that following the direction of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed at range level to deal with the land disputes.
Sources in the police department said that only three or four cases have been registered at range level SIT so far.
Meanwhile, in spite of formation of SIT at SSP and DIG office, a large number of people are being seen daily making futile rounds the Police Station concerned, Circle office, SP City office, SSP office, DIG office and Police Head Quarter and returning home empty- handed with mere verbal assurances from the police officers concerned.
A visitor at DIG office said that complaints related to land disputes are not registered at police station level unless the police station in-charge is pressured by their seniors or political executives. Police do not act without receiving direction from their senior officers. “In my case, the court had issued non-bailable warrant against the offender in June. However, police station officer concerned is yet to act. The offender had received money and at the last moment, he refused to hand over the land to me. Though I approached the senior police officer regarding the same mere assurance was what I received. No action has been taken by the police officer concerned.”
A visitor at PHQ said that police demand money to act against the offender or they act on registered cases only if they are forced by their seniors. Gunjyal recently said that the district police heads have been directed to take stringent action against land mafias of their respective districts after conducting through investigation of such lands.
Cases related to land disputes are increasing and they should be looked into on priority basis. After conducting through investigation of such cases, Gangster Act should be enforced against the persons involved in encroachment of private and government lands illegally, he added. Gunjyal had said that SIT teams comprising one inspector and constables have been formed to deal with land dispute cases. Senior police officers have been directed to monitor the registered cases and ensure speedy redressal of the public grievances, he added.