| Forest Department 'shielding' land grabbers | | 70 poles uprooted, no action against encroacher since 2013 | | G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 14: After assuming charge as Forest Minister- the BJP's fire brand leader, has claimed that no land grabbers would be shielded but its own department's officials rather than nabbing the grabber who has been grabbing acres of forest land, have reportedly been shielding him. Pertinently the grabber is believed to have uprooted 70 poles of Devak Closure in Purmundal Block.
Sources in the department said that local residents had repeatedly apprised the department's officials over encroachment of the forest land in Village Fadyali by Babu Ram s/o Mangtu, resident of same the village by uprooting nearly 70 PCC square poles of said closure.
"But unfortunately, the department concerned rather than taking stern action against the said accused, has been protecting him," the sources said adding the accused has been intimidating the complainant.
"In year 2012, the Seed Development Department had developed Closure No. 31/ Devak Closure at village Fadyali and planted varieties of saplings but just after its establishment, the accused person mentioned above, had uprooted nearly 70 PCC square poles of barbed wire and has grabbed acres of the forest land so far and nobody in department has dare to vacate the land from his possession", said a local, wishing anonymity.
He further said that since 2012, we have repeatedly apprised the District Forest Officer, District administration, Samba and even Seed Range Officer, Janipur. Whereas, an FIR No. 6/13 Dated 26-04-2013 under Act PRC Section 447/A has already been registered in the Police Station Purmandal against the accused but nothing has been done so far by the department concerned.
They alleged that the some officials of department concerned have hands in gloves with the encroacher due to which, he has been roaming free and so far no action has been initiated against him. |
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