DC Jammu to head inquiry panelRevenue Ministry orders probe into all land encroachment

GNS JAMMU, Dec : The Revenue Ministry has ordered a high level inquiry into entire gamut of encroachments on Government land, tampering of revenue record to convert Nazool or other land for sale and purchase and all other irregularities committed by the land mafia in Jammu during past few years. Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma will head the inquiry committee, official sources said. An order to this effect has been issued by the Revenue Ministry. The inquiry committee will have administrative powers. This has been done to ensure that administrative action was taken on report and recommendations of committee. Sources said the inquiry committee would cover all kind of encroachments made on the Government land by influential persons including State Times Editor, Raj Daluja alias Raji, some police officers and others. All encroachments made by Raji and reported by the Excelsior during past few days, have also been referred to the inquiry committee by the Revenue Ministry for investigations followed by their removal to retrieve the Government land from the clutches of mafia. According to sources, the Revenue Ministry issued the Government order following several land scams exposed by the Excelsior especially those pertaining to Raj Daluja alias Raji, who had grabbed nearly 700 kanals of land at Raipur Jagir in Gho Manasan area on Tawi river bed, where he has raised a Farm House. The inquiry will also cover construction of State Times office on Nazool land at Ambphalla and other land encroachments made by Raji on the Government land including Bishnah. A separate inquiry on encroachments made by Raji on the land of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) at Trikuta Nagar and Railway Station has already been ordered by Deputy Chief Minister, Incharge Housing and Urban Development Department, Tara Chand. This inquiry has also been entrusted to the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. Sources said the inquiry committee would look into encroachments on the Government land made by other influential persons at different places of Jammu in connivance with staff of the Revenue Department at various levels. The terms of reference of the inquiry committee said the purchase of huge agriculture land by a non agriculturist (Raj Daluja) would also be covered. The Farm House has been raised on the agriculture land at Raipur Jagir in Gho Manasan by Raj Daluja. He had grabbed the agriculture land by coercing the local people, who have also lodged a written complaint with the Chief Minister. Sources said the inquiry committee would hold an in-depth investigation into land encroachments by the influential persons including Raji including tampering of Revenue record with the help of some Revenue Department officials. The inquiry will also cover charging of fine by Jammu Municipal Corporation on the constructions raised by Raj Daluja on Nazool land at Ambphalla to raise office of the State Times.