Bulldozers deployed to reclaim 27 bighas of encroached govt land in Sambhal village

Meerut: The district administration on Wednesday carried out an anti-encroachment drive using bulldozers in Bicholi village of Sambhal, reclaiming nearly 27 bighas of govt land. Officials said the action was taken under section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code following an investigation.A team from the revenue department reached the site in the morning accompanied by police personnel and a company of Rapid Action Force (RAF). Two bulldozers were deployed during the operation.Tehsildar Dhirendra Singh said residents had been resisting eviction since 2022, but the orders were upheld by trial and lower courts. He said that the area had been developed through illegal encroachments on a water body, orchard, playground, school land and other govt property."We had given sufficient time to the residents to move out. Unoccupied structures are being targeted first and the rest will be removed in phases. As of now, five houses are being demolished using bulldozers," Singh said.The drive began with demolition of the house of village head Mohd Atiq Ahmed who denied the allegations of encroachment. "We purchased the land nearly 50 years ago and possess documents. No notice was served on us. We will approach higher courts," he said.In Aug last year, the administration demolished portions of a graveyard in Sher Khan Sarai village under the Sadar Kotwali area and reclaimed approximately 2,000 square metres of ‘encroached govt land'. Authorities had also identified 31 shops and 20 houses in Turtipur Ilha as ‘illegal constructions on govt school and gram samaj land.'