Village woes: ‘Encroachers’ clear off police force
Cops pelted with stones for demolishing houses in village.
RAHIM YAR KHAN:
Residents protested after police officials tried to demolish a colony of huts on Saturday. Taba Chak 87P residents pelted police officials with stones and drove them out of their village after the police tore down two residential huts.
Residents of the village said that they had settled on the hill nearly thirty years ago. “There are more than 50 houses here and the police suddenly declared the entire village to be an encroachment,” said Saleem Taha.
The village residents accused Chak 124 lumberdar Rana Abdul Khaliq of bribing the naib tehsildar and several patwaris to try and seize the land. “Khaliq has tried to get hold of this land for years and he knows some powerful people,” said a village resident, Basheeran, adding that he had paid off the police to conduct the operation.
On Friday evening, police officials destroyed two huts while the residents were at work. “They didn’t issue us with any warning to vacate the premises beforehand and they had no grounds to simply start destroying our houses,” said resident Shaukat.
The villagers accused Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP) Rana Saeed of having sent a police force without cause.
Saeed said, “I had cause. I had warned them for months that action would be taken against them. They were encroaching and this was the fourth time I sent the police squad to clear the area.” Saeed categorically denied all claims of having been in contact with Khaliq in this regard. “I have never even met the man. These allegations are false. The entire village is a katchi abadi that has cropped up on state land,” he said.
Villagers pelted the police with stones and bricks after they demolished two huts. “We will not let them destroy our homes,” Basheeran said.
“This village has been here for over thirty years.
Was the police blind to its existence all that time?” said Shaukat.
Police inspector Kashif, who was part of the raiding team said, “I received orders to vacate the village and to use force if necessary.” He added “These people have ignored repeated orders to leave the place. They think that they can get away with squatting here forever.”
DSP Saeed said that the police were planning a larger operation to ensure the village was cleared and that the residents had been issued a final warning in this regard.
“We will not go anywhere. We drove them out once, we will do so again,” said Taha.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 03rd, 2011
Residents protested after police officials tried to demolish a colony of huts on Saturday. Taba Chak 87P residents pelted police officials with stones and drove them out of their village after the police tore down two residential huts.
Residents of the village said that they had settled on the hill nearly thirty years ago. “There are more than 50 houses here and the police suddenly declared the entire village to be an encroachment,” said Saleem Taha.
The village residents accused Chak 124 lumberdar Rana Abdul Khaliq of bribing the naib tehsildar and several patwaris to try and seize the land. “Khaliq has tried to get hold of this land for years and he knows some powerful people,” said a village resident, Basheeran, adding that he had paid off the police to conduct the operation.
On Friday evening, police officials destroyed two huts while the residents were at work. “They didn’t issue us with any warning to vacate the premises beforehand and they had no grounds to simply start destroying our houses,” said resident Shaukat.
The villagers accused Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP) Rana Saeed of having sent a police force without cause.
Saeed said, “I had cause. I had warned them for months that action would be taken against them. They were encroaching and this was the fourth time I sent the police squad to clear the area.” Saeed categorically denied all claims of having been in contact with Khaliq in this regard. “I have never even met the man. These allegations are false. The entire village is a katchi abadi that has cropped up on state land,” he said.
Villagers pelted the police with stones and bricks after they demolished two huts. “We will not let them destroy our homes,” Basheeran said.
“This village has been here for over thirty years.
Was the police blind to its existence all that time?” said Shaukat.
Police inspector Kashif, who was part of the raiding team said, “I received orders to vacate the village and to use force if necessary.” He added “These people have ignored repeated orders to leave the place. They think that they can get away with squatting here forever.”
DSP Saeed said that the police were planning a larger operation to ensure the village was cleared and that the residents had been issued a final warning in this regard.
“We will not go anywhere. We drove them out once, we will do so again,” said Taha.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 03rd, 2011