Bulldozers Roll in Sambhal: 27 Bighas of Govt Land Reclaimed
The district administration in Meerut took decisive action on Wednesday. They conducted a major anti-encroachment drive in Bicholi village, located within the Sambhal area. Using powerful bulldozers, officials successfully reclaimed nearly 27 bighas of valuable government land.
Legal Basis and Forceful Execution
Officials stated clearly that this action was not arbitrary. It proceeded under the specific provisions of section 67 from the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code. A thorough investigation preceded the operation.
A coordinated team arrived at the site early in the morning. This team included personnel from the revenue department. They were accompanied by a strong police presence for security. Significantly, a full company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) also joined the operation. The administration deployed two bulldozers to carry out the demolition work.
Longstanding Resistance and Court Backing
Tehsildar Dhirendra Singh provided crucial context. He explained that local residents had been resisting eviction attempts since the year 2022. However, the administration's orders received solid backing from the judiciary. Both the trial court and lower courts upheld these orders, giving legal weight to the drive.
Singh detailed the nature of the encroachment. "The area had been developed through illegal means," he said. This illegal development occurred on land designated for public use. It included a water body, an orchard, a playground, school land, and other government property.
"We provided sufficient time for residents to vacate the premises," Singh added. The current phase targets unoccupied structures first. Officials plan to remove the remaining encroachments in a phased manner. As of now, bulldozers are demolishing five specific houses.
Demolition Begins with Village Head's Property
The drive commenced with a symbolic and contentious action. Crews demolished the house belonging to the village head, Mohd Atiq Ahmed. Ahmed strongly denied all allegations of encroachment. He presented a different narrative.
"Our family purchased this land almost fifty years ago," Ahmed claimed. "We possess all the necessary documents to prove our ownership. The administration did not serve any proper notice on us. We will definitely approach the higher courts to seek justice."
Pattern of Previous Actions
This is not an isolated incident in the region. The administration demonstrated a similar resolve last August. In Sher Khan Sarai village, under the Sadar Kotwali area, officials demolished portions of a graveyard. That action reclaimed approximately 2,000 square metres of what they termed 'encroached government land'.
Authorities have also identified other illegal constructions in the area. In Turtipur Ilha, they flagged 31 shops and 20 houses. These structures were allegedly built illegally on land belonging to a government school and the gram samaj.
The administration's message appears clear. They are systematically targeting illegal occupations on public land, backed by court orders and executed with significant force.
