JP Nagar sites in land-grab muddle

JP Nagar sites in land-grab muddle
Deccan Herald

In the latest in the series of land-grabs in Bangalore, three 30x40 sites – two of them in possession of their owners for over 15 years – in JP Nagar were encroached upon and fenced on March 17....

In the latest in the series of land-grabs in Bangalore, three 30x40 sites — two of them in possession of their owners for over 15 years — in JP Nagar were encroached upon and fenced on March 17.

And even as the new ‘boundary’ walls stand proof to the forced entry, the site owners are pegging their hopes to a complaint lodged at the local police station.

According to the petitioners, a group of around 40 men trespassed on the three sites on Survey No 20/2 in Puttenahalli Village, Uttarahalli Hobli, Bangalore South Taluk on March 17 and took possession of the sites after constructing boundary walls.

The sites were not fenced earlier, though a caretaker stays in a shed constructed on the premises.

While two sites are owned by Narendra Kumar Mullick and T Shankara Narayana, no details are available on the owner of the third site.

The survey number comes under the jurisdiction of Kengeri Sub-Registry Office.

Mr Mullick and Mr Shankara lodged the complaint with JP Nagar Police Station on the same day and the culprits were locked up till afternoon on March 18.

Murky matters

The petitioners alleged that after the trespassers were released, the latter’s advocates proposed a “deal” under which the illegal boundary walls could be demolished, if the complaint was withdrawn.

“Later, they went back on the word and are now pushing for a caveat in the Civil Court. In any case, we are not going to favour a situation wherein the culprits will be called parties to the case, when the truth is that they are just forceful intruders and land-grabbers,” Mr Mullick, an insurance advisor, told Deccan Herald on Friday.

The petitioners also believe that the caveat move is an attempt to drag the issue to the court and, in turn, freeze their right on the sites and possibly, explore options of an out-of-court financial settlement.

Land price boom

Mr Mullick’s site (no 89/7, khata no 366) was registered in 1992 when he bought it from one Mrs Vijaya Rao. Mr Shankara’s site (no 6, khata no 228) was registered in 1991. “After 16 years, they are staking a false claim, clearly to cash in on the booming land prices in the locality,” Mr Shankara said. Both the petitioners backed the allegations with documents including the property sale deed and tax payment details (till 2006-07).

Satisfied

The petitioners are satisfied with the manner in which the police have responded to the complaints. However, with land rates as big as around Rs 2 crore (for the three sites combined) involved, they know they are not done with the encroachers yet. Right now, they are keeping the vigil.