Panchayats Department reclaims 191 acres of land in Jhanjeri

The Rural Development and Panchayats Department, Punjab, took possession of 191 acres of shamlat land in Jhanjeri village. The department formally handed over land to the Jhanjeri Gram Panchayat after completing all legal formalities.

For the past more than one month, an intense tussle was going on between village residents, Rural Development and Panchayats Department, revenue and police officials to take possession of the land whose value was estimated to be approximately Rs 2,000 crore.

On April 27, an attempt was made to dispossess the land owners of Jhanjheri from their land without proper demarcation, residents allege. On April 28, administration and revenue official along with the police came to the said land at 9 pm and forcibly tried to take its possession in late night hours, but had to step back due to hostile conditions.

On the complaint of tax collector Raghu Moudgil, a case was registered at the Kharar Sadar police station on April 29 and 27 persons were named in it.

Officials took possession of the land in the early morning today in the presence of two Duty Magistrates and substantial police force, deployed under the supervision of two SPs.

District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) Baljinder Singh Grewal informed that the warrant of possession was issued by Amarinder Singh Chauhan, Collector, Panchayat Land, on April 25 following the directives of Punjab and Haryana High Court, dated February 4 in favour of the Jhanjeri Gram Panchayat.

The government said the land had been under illegal occupation of approximately 105 parties. After the land was cleared, official possession was handed over to Amit Kumar, Administrator, Jhanjeri Gram Panchayat.

Prominent officials present at the site included Mehkmeet Singh, BDPO, Kharar, and Gurvinder Kaur, Tehsildar, Kharar, along with staff from the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, Police Department and Revenue Department.

DDPO Grewal emphasised that any attempt to trespass on the reclaimed land would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.