Land Scam in Kashmir

200 acres of land encroached near Srinagar: BJP

Alleging that biggest defense land grabbing scam has taken place in Kashmir Valley in which 200 acres of land has been transferred near IAF station, Srinagar in Budgam district by private parties in connivance with Government officials, the BJP today demanded the CAG and the Ministry of Defence probe into the matter.

"It is the biggest defence land scam by the private persons in connivance with defence and State Government officials in grabbing of 200 acres of land near IAF station in Budgam district," BJP national secretary Kiriti Somaiya told reporters here.

Somaiya, who released an eight-page document regarding alleged land scam, said two private players connived with defence and revenue officials in transferring the plots to 61 people. This is a serious issue as there is every apprehension that this land might have been transferred to the anti nationals and terrorists. And the land being near IAF station can put the national security to a grave risk, he added.

He also accused the State Government of not cooperating on the issue in investigating the matter and alleged that the revenue officials would have never transferred the land with out the backing of higher ups in the Government. There should be a proper investigation that whose hand in Government is behind this land mafia, he added.

Besides Budgam the defence land grabbing scams have surfaced in two other districts of Valley, Somiya said.

The land grabbing and its illegal transfer had taken place between 2006 and 2010, he said, adding that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were "silently" issued for the purpose by revenue officials.

He demanded CAG and MoD should setup high-level probe teams, depute them to Srinagar and conduct investigation.

The BJP leader demanded Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to direct the Deputy Commissioners in all the districts to help armed forces in the land grabbing matter.

He said that State Government should immediately scrap the revenue records, "illegally prepared by the land grabbers" and also order a high level probe to punish the guilty.

A high-level BJP team will visit the spot and would hold talks with the officials of defence forces and the district administration in this regard, he said.

Earlier Mr Somaiya addressed a party rally organised by BJP’s Akhnoor district at Nagbani against corruption, black money and price rise. He said while BJP has intensified its campaign against corruption, price hike and black money inside and outside the Parliament, the party will now take up the issue of corruption and scams in J&K.

The rally among others was addressed by BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas, Party national Executive Member, Dr Nirmal Singh, BJP national executive member and chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh, general secretary Sat Sharma (CA) MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma, Col (retd) Uttam Singh, Suraj Parkash Padha, Karan Singh, Capt (retd) Kasturi Lal, Mukesh Sharma, Sheela Handoo, Joginder Singh, Rajinder Singh and Kuldeep Sharma.