NH project acquires land, babus pocket compensation for owner

Jorhat police registers non-bailable case against ADC and zir

A Correspondent

Jorhat, June 4: Jorhat police has registered a non-bailable case against an Additiol Deputy Commissioner and a zir, following a complaint which charged the two officials with diverting land compensation funds.

The case was registered following an FIR by one Anta Bora, a resident of Metali Gaon under Bhogdoi Outpost.

Police have slapped IPC sections 109/ 119/ 120(B)/ 165/ 166/ 167/ 181/ 182/ 199/ 200/ 406/ 409/ 420/ 424/ 34 IPC against a zir Ratul Chandra Bora and ADC Pradip Kumar Das. According to the FIR, the officials colluded to divert an amount of Rs 17 lakh which was meant as compensation against a plot of land measuring 2 katha 14 lechas covered by PP No 43 (old) PP No 5 (new) and Dag no 323 & 344 which was acquired for four-lane tiol Highway project.

The zir faces charges of embezzling the amount and depositing it in his own account, allegedly in collusion with the ADC. 

Complaint Anta Bora told The Sentinel, "In my FIR I have mentioned that I am the owner and in possession of a plot of land measuring 1 bigha 3 katha and 8 lechas situated at Metali gaon Village, Mouza Hatigorh under Bhogdoi Outpost and under Jorhat East Revenue Circle. The said land was acquired by my father late Sarat Chandra Bora by registered sale deed no 3915/3447 on 21/12/1954. After my father's demise, I now possess the land by inheritance descent. Moreover, the land has been under our possession for the last 60 years without any interference/encumbrance from any side and we are paying revenue regularly. As per the latest revenue receipt our PP No is 5 and we are not aware of any changes made in the Dag No".

Anta Bora claimed that some portion of his land has been acquired for the tiol Highway project. "But we faced immense difficulties in submitting our claim for compensation despite possessing all the documents. Ratul Bora, the zir at the Jorhat DC office has always been creating hurdles by misusing his office power. We made a complaint to Samiran Bora, Circle Officer Jorhat East Circle and PK Das (ADC, 4 Lane Highway, Revenue) but we did not get any help," he said.

Instead, the down-line staff in the land acquisition department told the complaint that the claim has been settled for that plot of land in favour of Ratul Chandra Bora, zir, DC Office and compensation amount credited to his account.

Bora smelt a conspiracy and even doubted the role of the Deputy Commissioner, who, despite being apprised of the matter, did not initiate any action.

The embezzlement came to light through an RTI query. Initially, the ADC did not reply to the RTI query citing "security reasons".  "But after we filed our next appeal to the Controlling Officer, ADC PK Das in his next letter vide JRA 62/2015/84 dated 18/05/2015 informed about the land acquisition in the me of Ratul Bora," added the complaint's advocate Gautom Bora.

Jorhat Superintendent of Police Amanjeet Kaur said that a case has been registered against two administrative staff of the DC Office. "We cannot disclose much information now but our investigation is on," she said.