One arrested for threatening SDM during meeting

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 25

A resident of Rampura village has been arrested on the charge of threatening Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sakshi Sahawney during a meeting over land acquisition for toll plaza at Lehra Bega village.

In a complaint registered with the police, SDM Sakshi Sahawney has stated that accused Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Rampura village, had come along with his associates for the meeting.

During the meeting, the accused threatened the SDM and also interrupted the government work.

The police have registered a case under Sections 353, 186 and 506 of the IPC at the Civil Lines police station.

Ramandeep Singh, brother of the accused, along with Bhagwant Singh, Harjas Singh Brar and advocate Navjot Singh Romana today held a press conference at Bathinda Press Club.

They demanded that the case should be cancelled against Gagandeep and the district administration should constitute a district-level price fixation committee for land acquisition at Lehra Bega village.

They criticised the ‘low’ rate offered to them and said, “We are pained to observe that they have not calculated any amount regarding the value of the assets attached to land, for example, dhaba/hotel, covered area plinths and shops. No individual was informed about the actual amount of compensation he was likely to receive in lieu of these assets.”

They claimed that yesterday, they had gone for the meeting with the SDM.

“We raised our concerns but the SDM refused to look into the valid precedents. After her junior officer, a patwari, questioned Gagandeep over the cause of his agitation, a spat between the two ensued,” they added.

While talking to Bathinda Tribune, SDM Sakshi Sahawney said, “They came with a point that they should also get money for their commercial establishments. I told them that it was agricultural land but if they had got the CLU for the land done then they should come up with their documents and to get money as per commercial rates.”

She said as per Section 26 of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, they were getting around Rs 1.33 crore per acre but Gagandeep was misleading the land owners that they were only getting Rs 33 lakh per acre.

He also misbehaved with her and other staff members of her office, she added.