1000 kanal land scam unearthed

Srinagar, Apr 28: Jammu and Kashmir police Crime Branch (CB) claimed to have unearthed two major land scams involving more than 1000 kanals of state land after they found more than 100 people, including Revenue officials involved in the crime.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) CB said a tip - off was received that a group of Revenue officials have fraudulently transferred government land to some persons in different parts of the city and Badgam district.

He said the investigation was taken up and it was proved that state land measuring 663 kanals, situated at Rawalpora, Humhama and Peer Bagh, the value of which runs in crores, was fraudulently transferred by eight Revenue officials in the name of 48 beneficiaries in the early eighties.

The SSP said the Revenue officials, in convenience with the beneficiaries, also destroyed a major portion of the records to cover up their misdeeds and to escape the law.

However the CB took up the challenge and arrested the defaulters, seized the records and identified the state land which was mostly covered under water at Wali Abad Peer Bagh Srinagar.

The offences stand proved against 56 accused which include the Revenue officials and others, he said.

Similarly, CB also investigated another fraud of transferring state land measuring 329 kanals situated at Nadergund and Humhama.

He said five 5 Revenue officials identified as Moti Lal Tikoo, Khursheed Ahmed Hakeem, Ghulam Mohammad Ganai, Ghulam Nabi Ganai and Wali Mohammad Mir were found responsible for committing a fraud.

The SSP said these officials had entered into a criminal conspiracy with 50 accused beneficiaries and transferred the state land, value of which also runs into crores, in the names the accused.

He said the case has been put up before the Judicial Magistrate.

UNI