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| SHO Kothibagh directed to file compliance report | | SDA land encroachment | | Mustansir
Srinagar, Aug 30: The Chief Judicial Magistrate today directed the J&K Police (Police Station Kothibagh) to investigate the complaint of illegal encroachment of SDA land at Maulana Azad link road and furnish the compliance report within three days.
The Srinagar Development Authority today filed an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar seeking direction to the Police station Kothibagh for evicting the sumo drivers, reportedly backed by some influential ruling politicians, illegally occupying the SDA divisional store Srinagar.
The complaint was filed after the SDA failed in its attempt to get around 50 sumo drivers who forced their way into the SDA divisional store compound during the intervening night of August 24-29 evicted from the prime land worth Rs 100 crore. Sources said that the SDA in its application has alleged that despite lodging a written compliant before the police station Kothibagh the police has failed to take any action against the illegal encroachers and neither has it provided the SDA the copy of FIR, if any registered in the matter. The CGM Srinagar while forwarding the application in terms of section 150 (3) CrPC to incharge Police Station Kothibagh Srinagar and to investigate the matter and furnish the compliance report within 3 days.
As reported earlier on the intervening night of 24-25th August around 50 Sumo drivers forced their way into the compound housing the SDA store next to the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand's residence and parked their vehicles there. The SDA was to construct a Sewerage Treatment Plant with a receiving station and water reservoir for the multiplex Sangermal project which is to be completed in 4 phases.
Though the SDA officials immediately rushed to the spot , however, taxi drivers who are reportedly enjoying backing of a very powerful legislator of the ruling National Conference refused to leave the place and instead threatened the SDA official of dire consequences.
The Vice Chairman of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Mohammad Shafi Rather and his team was helpless before the Taxi drivers as they were reportedly in touch with some ruling party members who were directing police and administrative officers not to take any action against these drivers. According to the sources the SDA filed a complaint in the police station Kothibagh but 4 days down the line, the police is yet to take action against encroachers mainly because there is tremendous pressure on the police and civil administration not to disturb the encroachers. "This is a well knit network of gangsters enjoying patronage of some politicians of the ruling NC which forcibly broke into the well-fortified store premises of SDA at 2300 hours on August 24. They bulldozed the walling and structures worth lakhs of rupees for illegal establishment of a taxi stand," the SDA said in its complaint to the police. The SDA said repeated attempts by its enforcement wing to prevent these "criminal trespassers" from vandalizing the SDA property was met with "furious assault" on the team.
A senior SDA official told Early Times that VC of the authority raised the matter with senior police officials including IGP Kashmir A G Mir SSP Srinagar Aashiq Hussain Bukhari, however, no action has been initiated by the police against the encroachers as yet. He said the presence of the sumo stand also poses a threat to the SDA's state-of-the-art Sangarmaal Shopping complex which is opposite the encroached land.
Besides, Deputy Chief Minister and several top officials of the state government and central government reside within a stone's throw distance away from the store premises. Meanwhile Political Secretary to Chief Minister, Tanvir sadiq when contacted rubished the reports of involvement of Chief Minister's office in the encroachment. "This is absolutely ridiculous, there is no role of CM's office in the illegal encroachment of the land in question" Tanvir sadiq said.
When asked why the administration particularly the police have failed in removing the encroachment, Sadiq said, " I will have to confirm it from the Divisional Commissioner and the SSP about the development". He said if they (Sumo drivers) have occupied it illegally then he will ensure that law takes its own course.
It is pertinent to mention here that the state High Court is already hearing a Public Interest Litigation on transport issues of Srinagar. The court has banned establishing of any new transport stand in the heart of the city which includes the area which has been encroached upon. |
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