ANJUNA: The complainants, who have been victims of fraudulent deals, are worried as they claim that Special Investigation Team (SIT) land grabbing is taking longer time than expected in filing charge sheets and starting a trial in the land grabbing cases.
They have expressed concerns over the fact that there is no clarification from the government and authorities concerned with regard to land grab cases.
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The land grabbers, after then selling the land using forged documents, people have constructed houses by getting panchayat NOC and have also managed to obtain water and electricity connections thereby enjoying the benefits legally, according to the victims.
When Herald spoke to some of the victims, especially from Badem-Assagao, they said that the progress in the matter is moving at a snail’s pace.
A complainant Debbie Fernandes said, “My FIR was lodged in June 2022 at the Mapusa Police Station, but to date, the chargesheet has not been filed and I am clueless about what’s happening with regard to my FIR. We are still waiting for the outcome and are also waiting for a reply from the commission that is being appointed to know the status of our land which is part of the land scam.”
She claimed that the files in the Mamlatdar’s office have gone missing and as and when she visits the office, the staff always pretends to search for them or sometimes gives an excuse that the person concerned with the handling of the files has gone on leave.
Vincy, one of the first victims of a land scam from Badem Assagao, claimed that progress in the matter is very slow.
Vincy said, “It’s been nearly a year since the land grab scam was unearthed, but the progress is slow. Progress with regard to the rectification of these fraudulent transactions is not forthcoming. It seems that the government machinery is tacitly slowing the process for the common people and passing the buck on SIT, Mamlatdar, Sub-Registrar, Police, etc, due to which, the files are not processed on time.”
“This only means harassment for the common people, which is unnecessarily time-consuming and a waste of money by doing the rounds of courts and land records-related offices. In my case, I was the first to register a complaint with all the departments concerned in March 2022, my FIR was registered by the Mapusa Police only just before the files were to be handed over to the SIT in June 2022,” Vincy added.
Ashley Monteiro, another victim, said, “We are still waiting for the authorities to make a formal statement on the updates on investigations and facts that have transpired after numerous FIRs were registered. Unfortunately, many more complainants are waiting for their FIRs to be registered and this just reflects the complacency of the authorities, who need to take into consideration the fraud committed. Over 300 victim families and their loved ones have been affected. The SIT taking over this multi-crore fraud investigation would definitely have understood and endorsed the modus operandi even though the same had been pointed out in general villagers’ complaints as well as individual complaints too with documented proofs.”
“There has to be certainly some sort of closure in at least one of the first cases being investigated, which would give most victims some comfort and assurance of the investigation and justice,” Monteiro added.
Melroy D’Souza another victim said, “Understanding the importance of the issue, a Special Investigation Team was formed but looks like it is a sleeping investigating team. It’s been almost a year now but nothing concrete is coming out. Culprits are moving freely on bail while we are left to suffer. In most cases, FIRs are not even registered. It is questionable if the government actually intends to kill the issue or chase the issue.”
