Retired army officer who fought in three wars now fights to save his ‘fraudulently’ sold land in Rajasthan | Today’s news
A 92-year-old former Indian Army officer, Captain Chunnilal, who fought in the 1962 war with China and the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, has alleged that his land in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, was fraudulently mortgaged, transferred and sold without his knowledge.
Former Indian Army Captain Chunnilal told ANI, “I came to Bassi after leaving the army. I served in the Kargil war before retiring. I fought this war not only for myself but also for my country…”
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“Our family had fertile agricultural land near Himachal Pradesh… However, the government acquired our land for the Pong dam project,” he said while narrating his ordeal.
Retired army captain Chunnilal said the compensation he received was not enough. “We have been told that the displaced families will be allotted land in Rajasthan…,” he said.
He said he was allotted land in Mohangarh.
“When I first arrived there, I found nothing but sand everywhere…Over the years, we improved the land with great efforts…Slowly the land became productive. However, after so many years of hard work, someone fraudulently sold my land by creating fake documents and using impersonators…,” he said.
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The police registered the case and started an investigation. The retired army officer requested that his case be transferred to Himachal Pradesh so that he can more easily attend the hearing and seek justice.
“No immediate action taken”
A retired army officer’s son, Multan Singh Thakur, claimed that although he approached several police stations and revenue offices after learning about the land registration and mutation, no immediate action was taken.
According to Thakur, the family first approached the Mohangarh police station before being directed to the PTM police station, which then referred them to the Kotwali police station, where the land registration was allegedly done.
“My father fought for the country in three wars and this is the fourth war he is fighting to protect his country. He is 90 years old,” Thakur said.
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“When we learned that our land was registered on June 16 and the mutation was done on June 22, we immediately came here,” he said.
He added, “We first went to the Mohangarh police station but they sent us to the PTM police station saying it was under their jurisdiction.”
“The PTM police station then told us to go to the Kotwali as the registration took place there,” he added.
“We met the Tehsildar and Patwari and informed them that someone was impersonating my father. The fake person claimed to be 75 years old while my father is 90. We asked the Tehsildar to cancel the mutation, but he said his job was only to register the property and we should approach the court,” said Thakur.
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He claimed that their FIR was also not registered. “It was only after the SP intervened that an FIR was finally lodged at the Kotwali police station,” he told ANI.
Thakur added that the police inspector had assured the family that proper legal action would be taken. He added that his father’s health deteriorated during the hearing of the matter and sought help from the Himachal Pradesh government.
“My father’s condition has worsened to such an extent that he fell asleep even as he was taking fingerprints. He is a heart patient, yet he remains determined to fight this fourth battle. I request the Himachal Pradesh government to help us. We have already spent thousands of rupees but we are still trying to get our own land back,” he said.
Case registered
Additional Superintendent of Police Revatdan confirmed that a case has been registered at Kotwali police station and that the allegations are being investigated.
“An ex-serviceman came to us and told us that he has a Murba here, whom some people impersonated and got registered in someone else’s name… A case has been registered at the police station, Kotwali. Any action will be taken after the investigation is properly completed,” he said.
Police said further action will be taken based on the results of the investigation.
