Elite police unit to keep land sharks at bay

By W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, DEC. 8. The State Government is creating a separate police unit under the control of the Revenue Department to curb the activities of the land mafia in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and to protect the Government as also the private property. This would soon be introduced in other districts also if necessary.

Disclosing this to The Hindu, the Home Minister, Mr.T. Devender Goud, here on Friday said that this was yet another step in the direction of creating a crime-free society. The necessity to create such a force with an IPS rank officer heading it was necessitated by the rising incidents of landgrabbing by anti- social elements including surrendered naxalites and local goons. ``This is first time in the country that any Government is planning to do so,'' he added.

Of late a disturbing trend has emerged in land disputes with the involvement of some retired revenue officials in issuing fake certificates, he said adding that they would face stringent action. ``The investigations have revealed that some of the retired officials are hand in glove with criminals and are issuing false certificates backdating them and stamping 'properly'. We shall not hesitate to take action against anyone including those belonging to the ruling party if found guilty,'' he said.

Most of the land disputes would begin as civil disputes but soon ended as law and order problems because of the soaring land prices in recent times, he said.

The move to create a separate cell follows the Revenue Department request and the modalities of it would be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting for approval.

Mr. Goud said that the new cell would be given adequate force to tackle any situation and civil disputes pertaining to land reaching the police stations in the two districts would be referred to the new cell through the Revenue Department. About 35 areas had been identified in the city and a notification had been issued cautioning people against registration as they belonged to the Government, he said.

``It is necessary to prevent corruption in the cell too, hence we want to route all cases to the Revenue Department,'' he said. The disputes were creating new leaders locally who would one day become political leaders and even law makers making a mockery of democracy, he said. The land mafia would be dealt with strongly and at the budding stage itself, he clarified.

Not ruling out the hand of followers and leaders of major political parties including the TDP, Mr. Devender Goud said that firm action could put a halt to all such activity.

``The Government does not hesitate to mend their ways. We have seen how some surrendered naxals had become a big menace in the city. Nayeemuddin who recently figured in the murder of civil rights activist Purushotham was found involved in a land dispute. Such elements are extorting lakhs of rupees from people. In turn the law-abiding citizen is facing trouble. We shall wipe out all such activity diligently,'' he said.

A better way would be for the State Government to give title guarantee on any property registered. Perhaps there could be some fee to give such a special assurance. ``This proposal may not be acceptable to some. Still, it is much better way of protecting the law-abiding citizens,'' he said.

On the issue of factionism in Rayalaseema and contract killers, he reiterated,`` You have seen what happened to some of them recently. We know how to deal with them. There is no room for complacency and our aim is not to eliminate political rivals too. One must keep in mind the fact that such characters have only vested interests. They may be with the ruling party today, tomorrow they don't hesitate to change tag.''

He cited the arrests of some supporters of ruling party and even a councillor of the TDP in Rayalaseema on Thursday to prove his point. ``Criminals are not TDP criminals or Congress criminals. They are just criminals, that is all,''he rounded off promising ``effective action in this direction.''

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