| Chib, Gharu, Tony call on Div Com, seek dismissal of SDM R S Pura in Peer Baba land, widow’s house demolition cases | | |
early times report
Jammu, Jan 2: : Former Ministers R S Chib and Gharu Ram Choudhary, along with DDC Suchetgarh Tarjit Singh Tony, on Friday met Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, and apprised him of what they termed serious misdeeds, bungling and an “atmosphere of fear” prevailing in Suchetgarh and R S Pura during the tenure of the present SDM, Anuradha Thakur.
The leaders raised the issue of alleged illegal allotment of land attached to the revered Peer Baba Badyal Kazian shrine to certain land grabbers, claiming that influential individuals were operating behind the scenes. They informed the Divisional Commissioner that the land in question has been cultivated and managed for nearly 70 years by the Katha Ram family, a Scheduled Caste family, including Ashwani Kumar and others, who have traditionally been associated with the land purely for religious purposes.
They alleged that the land, which holds deep religious significance, is being snatched through manipulation of revenue and Waqf-related records, undermining the rights of third-generation cultivators.
According to them, with the land acquiring prime commercial value, attempts were allegedly made to transfer it to favoured individuals by forging or manipulating official records, while keeping the Waqf Board in the dark.
The leaders also conveyed that the affected family has strongly rejected the inquiry committee constituted by the SDM two days ago, stating that since the SDM herself and her team are allegedly involved in the land grabbing, such an inquiry lacks credibility.
“How can the alleged culprit inquire into her own misdeeds?” the family reportedly questioned, demanding an independent and senior-level investigation.
The delegation further informed the Divisional Commissioner that during a recent protest led by senior political leaders and villagers, serious allegations were raised that the land was allotted to Sourab Chib, son of Narinder Chib, a Panchayat Secretary attached to the SDM office.
It was alleged that Narinder Chib has been associated with the SDM office since her earlier posting as BDO R S Pura, terming the matter an “open secret” and demanding scrutiny of the entire allotment process.
The leaders also alleged widespread corruption in the SDM office, claiming that building permissions are routinely issued only after monetary consideration and that actual cultivators were never called on the spot during demarcation exercises.
During the meeting, the leaders also highlighted the recent demolition of the house of an elderly widow, Sudesh Kumari, at Chakroi, alleging that the action was taken despite the matter being sub judice.
They termed the demolition an act of administrative high-handedness and alleged the SDM’s involvement with land grabbers in this case as well, stating that it reflected a pattern of misuse of authority and harassment of vulnerable sections.
The delegation narrated several other alleged instances of administrative misconduct in Suchetgarh and R S Pura, stating that such actions have eroded public confidence in the administration.
Several members of the Scheduled Caste and other deprived communities also expressed deep dismay, stating that their lands have been shown as Waqf property despite continuous cultivation for nearly 70 years. They feared that if the alleged misdeeds are not stopped, more lands belonging to poor and marginalized families may be taken away.
The affected cultivators alleged that no prior notice or information is being given to them whenever demarcation or other administrative action is undertaken, leaving them anxious about losing their livelihood and ancestral land.
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