Dhanbad: A total of 180 houses and one marriage hall were found to have been built on around 20 acres of land classified as govt property during a land survey conducted by the district administration at Baramuri Khatal area. Notices would be issued to the occupants concerned, officials said.Dhanbad circle officer (CO) Ram Pravesh said, “Acting on directions from deputy commissioner (DC) Aditya Ranjan, a two-day drive was undertaken to identify and demarcate encroached upon govt land and establish its boundaries. Similar demarcation exercises would be carried out at Pampu Talab and Loko Tank areas.”“Officials reached the area without any prior notice in this festive season,” said area resident Aditya Yadav.“Many families were relocated to Baramuri Khatal from the Bekarbandh Lake area in 2005 and have been living there ever since. We plan to meet the deputy commissioner to seek alternative arrangements before any eviction drive is undertaken,” residents said.DC Ranjan said, “The govt land in Baramuri was allotted temporarily in 2005 for cattle sheds, not for residential construction. An inquiry found that several people had built houses without permission. All unauthorised structures would be demolished and the occupants would be shifted to another location.”SSP Prabhat Kumar said, “Acting on a tip-off that some people were conspiring to commit a criminal offence, a police team raided a house at Baramuri Khatal under the Dhanbad police station limits on the night of October 17 and seized a country-made pistol, two live cartridges, and a magazine seized. A case was registered under the Arms Act at Dhanbad Sadar police station. Pappu Kumar, 31, was subsequently arrested and sent to jail. During interrogation, Kumar allegedly told police that Ankit Pathak, a resident of Bishunpur under the Dhanbad police station area, had given him the arm for safekeeping. Police are investigating the alleged role of Ankit Pathak.”
