Nagpur Police Task Force soon to crush ‘D-gangs' usurping prime land with forged documents
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The gangs are taking unfair advantage of city's rapid progress towards becoming a metropolitan, with projects like Mihan-SEZ and Metro rail extension driving land prices upwards, said sources adding these 'D-gangs' have targeted vulnerable people, including farmers, senior citizens and women.
According to sources, the Task Force will prioritise dismantling these networks, tracing forged documents and arresting kingpins.
The Task Force is the brainchild of commissioner of police Ravinder Singal. "We have identified names of some big fish among the land mafia. A dedicated and focused team is being set up. Stringent legal actions will be taken against the syndicate," he said.
As per police records, there have been over 150 land-grabbing complaints in the past year alone, with many involving violence or coercion. The Task Force is expected to be operational within weeks, with initial targets including gangs linked to big-scale encroachments in areas where new plots and layouts are coming up along Wardha Road, Godhni, Mihan, north Nagpur's few patches and so on.
This is, however, not the first such initiative by the city police to take on the land mafia. During former CP K Venkatesham's tenure, a special investigation team (SIT) was formed, but it lost momentum after a couple of months despite strong actions, including a crackdown on Gwalbanshi groups.
The city police's latest move is seen as a decisive step towards curbing the land mafia menace. However, experts warn that without systemic reforms, the mafia's ugly head may rise again.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Dharmasthala burials: No skeletal remains found at site no. 13
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the complaint of burial of over 100 bodies, on Tuesday carried out digging on a part of the large site no. 13 in Dharmasthala, but did not find any skeletal remains. The digging in other parts of the site will continue on Wednesday. The excavation at site no. 13, which is among the 13 'burial' sites identified by the complainant, was a complex one, as this plain land close to the vented dam has seen a lot of changes over the years. Loads of construction debris have also been dumped. Hence, the SIT had decided to scan the site area using ground penetrating radar (GPR), to get a clear map of the contours of the land beneath and detect substances lying inside. The site was scanned using the GPR for a few minutes on Monday. On Tuesday, workers cleared shrubs grown on site no. 13 and also from the adjoining site. Then the GPR, mounted on a drone, was used to scan the whole area. From 3 p.m., an earth mover was used to remove mud from one spot. After reaching about 10 ft., water started to seep in, and the personnel used pumpsets to pump out slushy water. The excavation ended around 7 p.m. after digging for about 18 ft. The personnel used inflatable balloon lights while mud was filled back at the place. The excavation on Tuesday was carried out in the presence of the complainant; Stella Verghese, Assistant Commissioner, Puttur Sub Division, and SIT SPs Jitendra Kumar Dayama and C.A. Simon. SIT chief and Director General of Police Pronab Mohanty briefly visited the spot on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, a team of police officers from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) visited site no. 13 on Tuesday. The officers of NHRC, which has registered a suo-motu case on reports related to mass burial complaint, on Monday first visited the SIT office in Belthangady, and then the Dharmathala gram panchayat office and the site close to Bahubali hills, which the SIT had excavated on August 9. Ruled out Sources in the SIT ruled out reinvestigation into the death of PU student Padmalatha in February 1987, as sought by her sister Indravati. The Corps of Detectives (CoD) had investigated the case, and a 'C' report stating that it is undetected was filed before the jurisdictional court. The case can be reinvestigated only if there is an order from the court, sources said. Indravati had given a representation to SIT on August 11 to reinvestigate the case.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Cabinet clears Lucknow Metro Phase-1B, new link set to boost Old City real estate markets
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project in Uttar Pradesh. The 11.165-km stretch will feature 12 stations, seven underground and five elevated, and connect key areas of Old Lucknow. Lucknow Metro Expansion: Real estate experts say the new Metro link is expected to boost property values, especially in the city's established and densely populated markets. (Photo for representational purposes only)(Pixabay) Real estate experts say the new link is expected to boost property values, especially in the city's established and densely populated markets. Once completed, Lucknow's operational metro network will extend to 34 km. To be built at an estimated cost of ₹5,801 crore, the network will link some of the city's oldest and busiest neighbourhoods that currently lack fast and reliable transport. It will cut through Old Lucknow, connecting commercial centres like Aminabad, Yahiyaganj, Pandeyganj, and Chowk, as well as King George's Medical University, major tourist sites such as Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Bhool Bhulaiya, and Rumi Darwaza, and areas famous for the city's traditional cuisine. In a statement, the government said that Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project represents a significant advancement in the city's infrastructure development, marking a major expansion of the Metro rail network in the state capital. Also Read: Uttar Pradesh's new building norms: Will vertical growth in Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Kanpur help lower property prices? The new corridor will introduce approximately 11.165 km of new Metro lines with 12 stations, seven underground and five elevated, improving public transportation in the oldest and the most densely-populated areas of the city, which currently lack efficient connectivity, the statement said. "By bridging these vital areas with the Metro network, Phase-1B will not only enhance connectivity but also stimulate economic activity, tourism, and ease urban mobility for both residents and visitors," it said. This is what real estate experts have to say 'The approval of Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project, connecting key zones of Old Lucknow, is poised to positively impact property prices, particularly in these established and often dense markets. Localities such as Aminabad, Yahiyaganj, Pandeyganj, and Chowk may have limited scope for new land development, but the promise of faster travel and better connectivity often acts as a strong driver of price appreciation,' said Ravi Nirwal, sales director and principal partner, Square Yards. Also Read: Bengaluru's Yellow Line Namma Metro to unlock affordable real estate markets with improved transit and shorter commutes Shorter commute times and improved access to commercial hubs, healthcare facilities, and tourist attractions are likely to make these neighbourhoods more appealing to both residents and businesses. Even in markets with constrained supply, enhanced infrastructure tends to spark fresh demand, breathing new life into the area's commercial and social environment. Over time, this metro expansion could prompt a notable revaluation of properties across these localities, he added.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Delhi Metro passenger lets son urinate on platform tracks, video sparks outrage
A Delhi Metro passenger shared a video of a man allowing his child to urinate on the tracks at Inderlok station, which has triggered outrage clip, originally posted on Reddit's 'r/Delhi' subreddit before being removed for policy violations, resurfaced on X where users slammed the 22-second footage shows the child relieving himself on the edge of the platform moments before a train was due to The man recording the video, seemingly another passenger, can be heard saying, 'Look at this man, he is letting his child urinate here at Inderlok Metro Station. He is not even ashamed about it. It is a public space. He is one of the most uncivilised people of India.'Watch the viral video here: Reactions were polarised. Several users condemned the father's actions and called it a blatant disregard for public decency, while others pointed to the lack of accessible toilets inside metro premises.'It's so normalised in people's minds that they don't even recognise it as wrong. If the conscience doesn't register the fault, how will they correct it?' said a user added, 'Metro stations literally have toilets. Where is the security? Why aren't such offenders heavily fined?'Others, however, argued that infrastructure was equally at fault. 'Once you enter the station, there should be toilets inside, free of charge. Since passengers pay for the service, this should be a basic provision,' a user said.A parent sympathised with the man in the clip, writing, 'Where should he have taken his son? There are no restrooms, and the ones that exist are filthy. It's a governance problem.'The discussion also prompted people to share similar experiences. One of the users recalled a journey on Raksha Bandhan when a woman refused to move her child, who was about to vomit, saying the cleaning crew would handle it. Another recalled being fined by metro security after calling out a woman for throwing orange peels on the tracks.'Had a similar experience on Raksha Bandhan. I was going to my bua's place on the Pink Line. A kid was feeling pukish, so everyone asked the woman to take the child out of the metro, but she refused to stand up and, I quote, 'Give up the seat,' and also said, 'Karta hai to karne do, main nahi hatungi. Metro staff cleaning kar dega.' I should've said, 'Cleaning crew ko bula ke aapko saaf kar dena chahiye,' but whatever. All this happened near Naraina Vihar, by the way,' said a user added, 'Reminds me of the time I called out a woman with her child for throwing orange peels onto the metro tracks at Rajiv Chowk station. Guess what happened next? She ended up making a scene, and the security had the audacity to ask me to pay a fine for 'creating ruckus - diversion in their duty.' She boarded the metro while the security took me away.'The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is yet to respond to the viral video. - EndsTrending Reel
