Hastinapur sanctuary land grab: Rice mill sealed

MUZAFFARNAGAR: District authorities have sealed a rice mill established by land mafias on encroached land of Hastinapur sanctuary in the district, a senior official said today.

Additional District Magistrate Indermani Tripathi said that an operational rice mill was found on the encroached government land at Faridpur village under Ramraj police station during checking which has been sealed by the police.

A case was registered against 12 land mafias including suspended revenue clerk Jai Bhagwan, rice mill owner Thakur Jaipal Chouhan, Rahul Goel, advocate Madanpal, Manoj, Prem, Raj, Mahipal, Pankaj, Pappu, Mangi Ram, and Satpal Singh under relevant sections of IPC and Forest Act in this connection.

A sewing machine and a tractor were also found from the mill.

It seems that land mafias were cheating farmers by supplying seeds in bags with fake brand mark from the mill, he said.

It has also been found that suspended clerk Bhagwan has been booked in 11 different cases of land grabbing so far.

23 cases have been registered for alleged encroachment of government land in 27 villages in the district in connection with Hastinapur sanctuary land scam, a senior official had said yesterday.

According to ADM Tripathi, district authorities found that sugarcane crops had been grown on 169 bigha of encroached government land during checking in 27 villages.