Senior PDP leader faces probe in land encroachment scam

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, August 30, 2014: Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra on Friday asked the chief secretary to initiate a probe into Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Sartaj Madani’s alleged role in the South Kashmir wetland encroachment scam and submit a report.

Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul also directed the Crime Branch to conduct a probe into the land grab allegations. The crime branch has been asked to submit the report and all relevant records within 15 days at his office.

National Conference (NC) legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri, who raised the issue in the Council, told Mail Today that more than 400 kanals (one kanal=0.8 acres) of wetland at Marhama in Bijbehara constituency of Anantnag district - around 50 km south of Srinagar - was encroached upon by PDP leader Yasir Reshi after manipulating documents. He also accused Madani of facilitating the land grab.

He said the wetland was spread across 500 acres and it harbours thousands of migratory birds, particularly during winters. He alleged the revenue authorities initially transferred 89 kanals of the wetland to Reshi through Hiba.

Under the Muslim Personal Law, when a Muslim transfers his property through gift, it is called Hiba. The gift is a transfer of property in which the ownership is transferred by a living individual to another living individual, and the transfer is made without any consideration.

Veeri asked how the wetland was transferred to the PDP leader through Hiba. He alleged that after the transfer of the land Reshi filled the land up to seven feet, which created huge problems for villagers who apprised of the matter to PDP leaders. However, they reportedly paid no heed to the protesters. He also accused Reshi of grabbing another 400 kanals of land while other part of the wetland was being filled.

Reshi, however, told Mail Today that allegations against him were baseless and political. "The land belongs to one of my friends who wanted to construct FCI store there. Residents objected to the construction of the proposed store. Then I became a guarantor on behalf of my friend so that villagers will not face any problem," he said. As proceedings commenced in the Legislative Council on Friday, Veeri along with another member rushed towards the Well and asking chairman of the Council to constitute a House Committee to probe the "massive land grab".

The chairman read out the response of PDP leader Madani who had rejected the allegations terming it baseless and misleading. However, NC legislator Veeri sought a time-bound probe by a House committee. Malhotra, however, said there was no need to constitute a House panel and asked the chief secretary to probe the charges.


Courtesy: Indiatoday