Early Times Report
Reasi, Aug 17: Land mafia in district Reasi is so active that state land along the highway in tehsil Reasi is being encroached upon by these elements by constructing shops under the nose of the local administration.
Sources told Early Times that near Baradaradari highway, from Katra to Reasi road, the land along the roadside is being encroached by constructing shops on the state land. Similarly, from Reasi to Pouni road, shops are being raised on Forest and Revenue land.
"Astonishingly, the matter of encroachment by mafia is in total knowledge of Tehsildar Reasi and tehsildar Pouni road, but no action has been taken by them and the encroachment of state land is going unabated, which proves that there is a nexus between government officials and land mafia," sources added.
They described the modus operandi of the land mafia like this: first, temporary sheds are raised. Later on, permanent construction of shops is done by the land mafia, and they then sell them on market rates.
"A former Deputy Commissioner of Reasi, Shushma Chouhan, during 2015-16 had taken strong action on a complaint about encroachment of state land and got demolished a temporary shed at Malaid. But as soon as she was transferred the demolished shed was again raised by the land mafia," sources said .
They said there are many complaints pending with the incumbent DDC, but till date no action has been taken by the administration, as a result the land mafia is ruling the roost in the district.
The local public appealed the Governor to the take cognizance of the matter and demanded an FIR against the people involved in the land encroachment. |
