Several booked for encroaching new grain market land in Shahkot

The police have booked several persons on the charge of encroaching new grain market land in Shahkot. Tejindar Kumar, secretary, market committee, Shahkot, told the police that the market committee had got possession of the land measuring 30 acres, four kanals, and 12 marla situated in Kotli Gajran village. He said the land was acquired for the construction of new grain market.

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He said former landowners, in cooperation with the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, on July 20, forcibly ploughed the land.

He said they sowed seeds of some crops and planted paddy on the land after destroying demarcation pillars and flex boards. He said the landowners stole barbed wire and illegally encroached land of the market committee while interfering officials in the performance of the government duty.

The Punjab Government had acquired land in 2011 for a new grain market owned by 30 farmers. Some farmers, including Gurnam Singh and others, had filed a civil writ petition against the government order in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which was dismissed. Later, farmers filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court of India.

The Supreme Court, in its order on July 31, 2024, dismissed the appeal while stating that the government had taken a conscious decision for the acquisition of land culminating in a declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The Shahkot market committee began possession proceedings of the land, which were completed on July 15 in the presence of heavy police force deployment.

Investigating officer Buta Ram said a case under Sections 218 (to take property by the lawful authority of a public servant), 221 (obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions), 329 (criminal trespass), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy ) 324 and 326 (mischief by destroying or moving land mark fixed by public authority), 303 (theft), 191(2) and 191(3) (rioting being armed with deadly weapons) on the BNS and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act was registered against the accused.