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JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir  Anti-Corruption Bureau again achieved a major success in extracting one of the major land scams in Jammu and Kashmir, wherein Custodian land in Bhalwal and Amb area of Jammu district has been found usurped by the land mafia in connivance with Form Alf Holders and the officers/officials of Custodian / Revenue department. 

Inputs were received that Custodian land in thousands of Kanal situated at Asarwan, Mishriwala, Bhalwal and R.S. Pura Jammu, has been fraudulently grabbed by the land grabbers/gangsters in connivance with the Revenue officers/officials. The revenue records have been tempered and land has been sold to various persons. 

On the basis of the inputs received by ACB a verification was initiated and on the basis of the verification conducted earlier it was found that more than 1000 kanals of Custodian land was shown allotted to the displaced persons on the basis of fake orders, who were otherwise not entitled for the allotment of additional land through fraudulent means by the land grabbers / Form Alaf holders in connivance with the officers / officials of Revenue department and others. Accordingly, 27 case FIRs were registered by the ACB in which the investigation is still in progress. 

Again, during the course of verification it has been found that displaced persons of Pakistan (PAK / POK Refugees) were already allotted land in their favour but even then kith and kin of these families although not entitled being Form Alaf holders in connivance with the concerned Patwaries / Girdawars / Naib Tehsildars / Tehsildars of Revenue Department got mutations of additional land at Bhalwal area of District Jammu attested in their favour either without any Govt. / Provisional Rehabilitation Office (PRO) order or on fake Govt. /PRO order. During verification it has also been found that no such orders of allotment of land were issued by the office of the PRO. These persons after getting mutation of lands in their favour alienated the said land directly or through their attorney holders / conduits to various persons by resorting to fraudulent means, thereby causing a huge loss to the Govt. Exchequer. 

Owing to the establishment of, prima facie, nexus of the criminal elements/land grabbers/ Form Alaf holders and the Revenue officers/officials in alienation of about 12 kanals 03 Marlas of Custodian land through fraudulent means, ACB has now registered formal case FIR No. 09/2026 U/S 7, 13(1)(a) & 13(2) of PC Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) and section 120-B, 420, 467, 468, 471 of IPC in P/S ACB Central J&K for in-depth investigation under the provisions of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and fraud against the accused persons namely (1) Altaf Hussain S/o Said Hussain Shah R/o Village Gursai Tehsil Mendher Poonch A/P Gura Brahmana, Jammu, then Patwari,  (2) Amjid Malik  S/o Gulab Din R/o Rajinder Pura Rahya Samba then Girdawar, (3) Aqeel Ahmad S/o Shri Mohd Hafiz R/o Buffliaz (Chamrar), Tehsil Suronkote District Poonch A/p Friends Enclave Chowadhi, Jammu, the then Naib Tehsildar Balwal, (4) Mohan Singh S/o Bhagwan Singh R/o Batala A/p Nanak Nagar Jammu, (5) Rabina Kouser D/o Sakinder Hussain W/o Rayaz Ahmed R/o W.No. 7, Surhoti, Mendhar District Poonch, (6) Nazir Hussain S/o Mirza R/o Bagani Talab Raipur Domana Jammu. 

Moreover, one more FIR has been registered by the ACB after conducting verification on the basis of a complaint lodged by one Kuldeep Singh S/o Baldev Singh R/o Marjali Kangrail alleging therein that fraudulent mutations and illegal conferment of ownership rights over land situated at Village Amb, Tehsil Bhalwal, District Jammu etc.

During the course of verification, it has been found that the revenue officials by abuse of their official position and in criminal conspiracy hatched with beneficiaries Rashpal Singh and others fraudulently attested the mutations in favour of the illegal beneficiaries thereby illegal conferring ownership rights of land measuring 15 kanal 08 marlas (approx.) upon illegal beneficiaries thereby causing corresponding wrongful loss to the Government exchequer. Accordingly, ACB has registered another formal case FIR No. 10/2026 U/S 5(1) (c ) (d) r/w section 5(2) J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 and section 120-B RPC in P/S ACB Central J&K for in-depth investigation under the provisions of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and fraud against the accused persons namely (1) Baldev Raj, then Patwari Halqa, Village Amb, (2) Pawan Kumar Kohli, then Naib Tehsildar (3) Rashpal Singh (beneficiary) S/o Rama Jatt R/o Marjali Kangrail and others. 

Further, investigation in both the cases has been taken up.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). ā€œHis article, ā€˜When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.ā€.  Read the message here
In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

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