By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/ Nainital, 11 Dec: The administration has demolished a large mosque and several other religious structures erected illegally on Reserve Forest land near the Kosi River in Ramnagar, in Nainital district. The action was carried out three days ago after the Forest Department issued notices for the removal of the unauthorised constructions that had come up on encroached land. A major portion of the reclaimed area falls under the Puchhadi settlement, where encroachment had been steadily increasing.
Sources have claimed that names such as Tahir Mulla, Salim, a journalist identified as Salim, ‘Uncle’, ‘Babu’ and their political patrons have surfaced in connection with the illegal occupation of Reserve Forest land along the Kosi River. Videos that have gone viral on social media also show administrative officers recording conversations with illegal occupants who explained how they acquired the land, the amounts paid, and the persons from whom they purchased it. The Forest Department has reclaimed nearly 64 acres of land during the first phase of action, while around 100 acres are likely to be cleared in the next phase.
During the ongoing operation, authorities also uncovered details regarding petitions filed in the High Court by residents of the shanties and the source of funding behind these moves.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Western Circle, Dr Saket Badola stated that the department has held a high-level meeting to expedite legal action in the High Court against those responsible for encroachment. He also added that evidence gathered so far indicates that a network had been active for several years, facilitating the arrival and settlement of intruders from outside states, collecting money from them, and enabling the organised takeover of government land.
The state government has ordered an SIT probe into the matter, as officials believe that land was allotted on the basis of fraudulent documents, raising concerns of demographic changes in the region. Over time, small temples, shrines, madrasas and a large mosque had been constructed systematically on Reserve Forest land near the Kosi River. On the morning of 7 December, the Forest Department, under heavy security, demolished these structures in the first phase of action. Reports confirm that the large mosque, built illegally on over 2,000 square feet of government land, was among the structures demolished.
DFO Prakash Arya said the Forest Department is reclaiming its land in the reserved area and will not tolerate encroachment of any kind. Notices have been issued to encroachers to vacate the land voluntarily, failing which strict action will follow. The department has also begun securing the reclaimed land with wire fencing.
In Ramnagar, longstanding encroachment and controversy over forest land in the Puchhadi area have brought the names of brokers and influential individuals into the spotlight. Illegal occupants have publicly identified people such as Tahir, Salim, ‘Doctor’, ‘Babu’ and ‘Uncle’ as the ones from whom they purchased land, with some claiming to have paid between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakhs for government forest land. The Forest Department had earlier filed an FIR against Tahir and several associates for alleged misappropriation of forest land, and the SIT investigation ordered by the government is understood to have revealed their involvement in the illegal sale of land.
Sources also claim that the racket of people selling Forest Department land as private plots had been operational for years, with several complaints pointing to the complicity of various persons. The local villagers allege that some influential and politically backed persons have sold Reserve Forest land as private property using fake documents and receipts, misleading innocent families. Many more names linked to this network are now emerging as investigations progress. Of course, possibility of involvement of some forest and revenue officials in this also can’t be ruled out but the big question remains, whether the government has any will to take action against such officials.
After the anti-encroachment drive, the affected families have demanded stringent action against those who illegally sold government land, asserting that the true culprits should be held accountable to prevent such incidents in the future. The administration is reportedly preparing a detailed investigation into the entire matter, while local social organisations emphasise that justice must be served to families rendered homeless rather than shielding those who amassed money by selling public land.
According to information from district authorities, the Forest Department and district administration are preparing to tighten legal action against those who misappropriated Reserve Forest land. Sufficient evidence has already been gathered against the land mafia. It may also be reminded here that Principal Secretary Forests RK Sudhanshu has directed officials to ensure the protection of land reclaimed from illegal encroachment.
