Mohali: Cops act against illegal colonisers, book 48

Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 14

Acting against unauthorised colonisers involved in the construction of housing societies, flats and commercial buildings on agricultural land in and around Mohali villages, the police today booked 48 persons under Sections 5 and 36 (1) of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act at the Balongi police station. Most of the colonisers who have been booked operate in the Jhampur, Ballomajra and Behlolpur areas. The case was registered after complaints from the GMADA Additional Chief Administrator.

Balongi SHO Rajpal Singh said, “Forty-eight persons have been named in the FIR. It is a bailable offence, no person has been arrested till now.”

A common grievance of residents is that GMADA demolishes illegal constructions, causing losses to buyers, but takes no action against colonisers who raise unauthorised construction on agricultural land. On March 16, GMADA demolished 60 illegal under-construction structures at Jhampur village. A day later, officials went to demolish 58 illegal houses in the Behlolpur area, but had to return after stiff resistance from residents.