LAHORE: At least 45 armed miscreants barged into two covered plots with the help of tractors in PIA Housing Society, Sattukatla on the night of Eid, demolished structures, looted valuables and hurled life threats at the victims.
One of the plots is owned by an Overseas Pakistani named Naveed Alam. The other plot is owned by a customs official. Investigation Wing of Lahore Police has failed to arrest even a single member of land mafia despite the lapse of four days.
The complainants Mian Raheel Anjum, brother-in-law of Naveed Alam, and customs official Irtaza, the owners of one kanal plot each numbered as 82/C and 81/C, told The News that on the midnight of September 13 & 14, they were present at the covered plots for its protection keeping in view the last incident occurred on August 18, 2016.
At around 1:30am, they heard gunshots and noise and as they opened the gate, they saw Malik Khadim Hussain, the ringleader of land mafia, Malik Shahid, Malik Khalil and their 45 unidentified accomplices standing there along with two tractors, a truck and six cars.
The attackers pointed sophisticated weapons at the complainants and their friends. Malik Khadim ordered to kill Mian Raheel and bury him there. In the meantime, the accused persons started looting valuables, including TV, microwave ovens, water dispenser, a DVD, chairs and equipment of construction. They loaded the valuables in the truck and then started demolishing main gate and its pillars, boundary walls of covered plots, and washrooms with the help of tractors. The complainants also alleged that the accused persons also snatched their cell phones and cash.
Local police after being informed at Rescue 15 reached the scene traditionally late which helped miscreants to flee the scene by resorting to firing in the air and hurling life threats.
Police registered two separate FIRs (918/16 and 920/16) against the members of land mafia under Sections 395, 452, 448, 511, 440, 427 and 506 of Pakistan Penal Code.
Talking to The News by phone, Mian Raheel Anjum said his brother-in-law Naveed Alam had purchased the plot from PIA Housing Society in 1987 and since then he is the sole owner and possessor of the plot. He alleged that office-bearers of PIA Society were also involved with land grabbers as they, according to him, provide information to land mafia about the absence of overseas Pakistanis in Lahore.
He also said Investigation Police had been using delaying tactics to arrest main culprits as they had not conducted raids so far. To a question, he said the land grabbers could not operate without the patronage of people at the helm in the area. To another query, he said police had recently helped in retrieving the possession of the plot from land grabbers and the initial construction work was also done in the presence of police.
The other complainant Irtaza said he had purchased the plot in 2014. The land grabbers had been demanding extortion since then and on refusal they tried to grab his land.
SP Operations Rizwan Gondal on the issue said the owner of the plot had not hired a security guard despite the happening of an earlier incident. He added police would continue providing immediate help whenever any such victim would contact them. To another query, he said he had no pressure from politicians of the area. President of PIA Housing Society Mirza Dildar Baig said though he has recently taken charge of the slot, he has taken up the issue with the authorities concerned. He said Malik Khadim etc had been claiming the possession of the plots but the society had purchased the same from his grandparents and then sold to the current owners.
Incharge Investigation Saleem Shaukat said they had been trying to the arrest accused persons but could not arrest any of them so far. He added the land grabbers were on the run but police would nab them soon. SSP Investigations Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera said the incident was in his notice but the due action was being taken to nab the miscreants.
It is worth mentioning here that land mafia is active in Sadar Division of Lahore Police for the last many years under the patronage of bigwigs of the area.
The land grabbers like Malik Mansha Bomb, involved in over 58 cases, and Malik Khadim mostly spot the plots of overseas Pakistanis and take possession of them. They have also legal teams to indulge victims in litigation for life. Mansha Bomb and his sons had been operating a land mafia for the last over 30 years in Sadar Division of Lahore police and grabbing lands. They also tried to grab the land of a judge and a colonel.