Canada-based NRI alleges bid to grab ancestral property in Amritsar

Seeking intervention of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a Canada-based NRI Amandeep Singh has alleged that several persons attempted to grab his ancestral property — a private school running for the past four decades — by manipulating land records. The school is located on Ram Tirath Road here.

My father, Dr Avtar Singh, a former professor at historic Khalsa College, started the school in 1980s after returning from Canada with a mission to provide quality education to poor kids in the rural belt. The school is affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board. Amandeep Singh, complainant

Though a case was registered at the NRI police station on September 14, the family and the school management still feared that the suspects, who were alleged land grabbers active in the area, might try to usurp their property once again.

“My father, Dr Avtar Singh, a former professor at historic Khalsa College, started the school in 1980s after returning from Canada with a mission to provide quality education to poor kids in the rural belt. The school is affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board,” Amandeep said.

He said two years ago, his father passed away. He said as his elderly mother was unable to run the school, therefore, the family entrusted the task to his father’s friend Davinder Sandhu for the time being. He said the family was making arrangements to send his wife Urvashi to India in order to carry forward his father’s legacy.

“We were shocked to learn that a land grab mafia tried to manipulate the school’s land records in order to grab the property. Two months ago, a group of people broke open the school lock and tried to take possession of the property illegally,” he said.

Urvashi said after registration of the FIR when they were getting the land cleared, some cops from local police station came and threatened labourers to leave the place or they would face dire consequences. She alleged that cops were under the influence of the suspects.

Jagjit Singh Walia, AIG, NRI wing, Punjab Police, said, “After preliminary probe, a case has been registered against suspects. Miscreants will not be allowed to grab the property.”

It is learnt that the suspects involved in the case were notorious land grabbers.

“All documents and land records are in our favour. We fear that the suspects would try again to forcibly grab our property,” Urvashi said.

The family has urged the Chief Minister, senior police and administration officials to protect educational institution from the clutches of the land grab mafia.