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Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Defence drive to clear airstripsland halted due to rainy season
Varanasi: The defence estate (DE) department of the ministry of defence has halted the drive to remove illegal structures built on the land of Andhau and Shahbazkuli airstrips in Ghazipur district till the end of the rainy season. The department launched a drive two months ago during which it razed many houses and structures built on the land of airstrips developed by the British during the World War II for emergency landing of fighter planes. The action stirred people who have been living there for seven decades, while political parties, especially Samajwadi Party, also launched agitation in their support. Talking to TOI, Ghazipur DM Avinash Kumar said, "Except for assisting the defence estate department in maintaining law and order, the district administration has no other role to play in the drive. The DE department was initiating action as per its own rules and laws. But, as monsoon turned active in the district, we requested them to put the drive on hold and they agreed to halt it." The DE department will relaunch its drive after issuing proper notices to persons concerned, added the DM. Before the drive of the DE department was put on hold, the SP had started raising the issue of affected people. SP's Jungiganj MLA Virendra Yadav alleged that people settled on the airstrip land decades back were being harassed at the behest of BJP-led govts at the Centre and state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo He also submitted a memorandum to the DM, terming demolition activities in areas like Biraich and Inarwa villages as unfair. Local SP MP Afjal Ansari and office-bearers like Gopal Yadav also turned vocal, terming the action as an inhuman act as after the razing of houses, many families were taking shelter under plastic sheets or in tents. They demanded waterproof tents, food and temporary toilets for the affected people. Displaced people should be provided land to build housing and shopkeepers at Zamania Mod should not be displaced, they added. The DM said that it is being ensured that eligible persons are identified and benefitted with govt schemes. The airstrips in Andhau and Shahbazkuli area of Ghazipur came up during World War II. After independence, the DE department did not initiate any step against people who occupied the defence land. Even many govt structures also came up on the airstrip land. Currently, only 63 acre of Andhau airstrip is lying un-encroached, while its 272.25 acre has been encroached upon. The area of Shahbazkuli airstrip encroached by people is 235.47 acre. On a total of 507.72 acre of encroached land of the DE department, Andhau airstrip's land is occupied by people dwelling in 18 villages including Bikapur, Biraich, Chandanbaha, Kapurpur, and Rajdepur. In Shahbazkuli, residents from 24 villages, including Bensagar, Hussainpur, Chakmeer and Firozpur Kala, are occupants.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
UP STF busts digi arrest scam, nabs 2 posing as officers
Lucknow: UP STF arrested two members of an organised gang involved in digital arrest fraud by impersonating officers of the CBI, Narcotics Control Bureau and Crime Branch. The arrests were made on Saturday in Lucknow. Virendra Yadav, alias Suraj Yadav (29) and Surjeet Kumar (30) were arrested near a hotel in Khargapur locality of Gomtinagar Extension. Police recovered three mobile phones, two forged Aadhaar card copies, two cheques (including one signed cheque for Rs 5 lakh), a passbook, a SIM card linked to a fraudulent bank account, WhatsApp screenshots containing information about fraud-related bank kits and a white car. Additional SP, STF, Amit Nagar, said STF received inputs about organised gangs impersonating senior enforcement officers to carry out digital arrest scams. "During interrogation, Virendra confessed they were in contact with cyber fraudsters who use messaging apps like Telegram to create groups offering commissions in exchange for providing bank accounts. Posing as officials from ED, CBI, etc, they would threaten individuals and extort money under the pretext of digital arrests. Fraudulently collected money was routed through multiple accounts, converted into USDT (a cryptocurrency) using the Binance app, and eventually laundered, leaving no direct trail," said ASP Nagar. The accused revealed they also arranged current and corporate bank accounts, chequebooks, internet banking credentials and registered SIM cards to facilitate fraud. Bypass applications were used to circumvent OTP authentication for faster fund transfers.
