The Hindu : Front Page : Crime Branch to probe forgery of title deeds

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Thursday, May 17, 2007
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Crime Branch to probe forgery of title deeds

Special Correspondent

Vigilance inquiry against officials who erred

V.S. Achuthanandan says an ordinance will be promulgated to declare Munnar ecologically fragile.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to institute Vigilance probe against officials and others who connived with the land mafia in the creation of bogus titles and other records at Munnar and neighbouring areas. The Crime Branch will probe cases of forgery of title deeds.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting that special teams would be constituted for the purpose.

It was necessary to take criminal cases against encroachers and those aided them. Land transfers could not have been effected without the knowledge of tahsildars, panchayat officials and village officers.

Principal Secretary (Revenue) Nivedita P. Haran would be asked to supervise the operation of the three-member team carrying out evictions and demolition of unauthorised buildings at Munnar.

She would function from Thiruvananthapuram and give the team necessary suggestions and recommendations.

More task forces

Two more task forces would be formed to aid the team in scrutiny of documents and other matters and preparing material for presentation in courts, increasing the total number of task forces to four.

An Ordinance would be promulgated to declare Munnar and nearby regions ecologically fragile area and ensure the protection of the region. Other centres would be added later, if necessary. The draft Ordinance might come for the consideration of the Cabinet next week.

Asked whether Ms. Haran's posting was the result of criticisms in the LDF State Committee, the Chief Minister said that there were opinions in the LDF that the services of a senior official for the eviction process would be beneficial.

Though there was demand that the three-member team should be removed, the LDF constituents themselves had changed their views. "The question was not whether the cat was white or black, but whether it caught the mice. As far as the team deputed to Munnar was concerned, they were catching even little mice."

Mr. Achuthanandan said that the action against encroachers in places such as Vagamom, Marayoor, Kumarakam and Kovalam would follow. Survey was under way regarding encroachments by Tata Tea. Pending its completion, cases were being registered against for breach of rules.

To examine criticism

Denying that there was move to undermine the evictions from within the LDF, the Chief Minister said that he would examine criticisms about the demolition of the front portion of the CPI office at Munnar later.

The office had been given an additional 24 hours' notice before the demolition team moved in. Demolition of several buildings was called for as they had been built on brook and road purambokes. However, poor people living on such land would not be evicted until rehabilitation programmes were ready.

Replying to a question, he said that he had not counted whether the number of his enemies had gone up following the evictions.

He had to use trusted officials to show that he meant what he had said as Leader of the Opposition.

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