Deputy Commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar has asked SSP R K Jaiswal to make proper security arrangements at the sub-registrar office. The order comes after court sub-registrar Mukesh Kumar was ‘abused and manhandled’ by some lawyers, which finally landed him in a hospital. Kumar is still on leave. (See box)

Meanwhile, providing proper security at the office has been a long pending demand of the sub-registrar himself. Initially, the office of land registry for Ludhiana west was situated in the Mini Secretariat while that of Ludhiana east was located in Transport Nagar. It was in September 2007 that both these offices were shifted to the Ferozepur Road.

Though there is no official count, yet on an average nearly 2,000 people visit the office daily. And with the absence of any security on the campus with huge amount of cash being exchanged, people entering into brawl frequently, mobile snatching and even cash snatching becoming a norm of the day, a lot needs to be done.

Balwant Singh, a resident of Aman Nagar, said, "It is the middlemen, agents and other unscrupulous elements who make the working at this office very difficult. Pickpockets move about freely without any fear of being caught."

Kartar Singh, a resident of Haibowal Kalan, said, "The reality is that after Mukesh Kumar took over, he had made it very clear that if one wants to get his work done, he/she has to fulfill all the formalities. The general public is very happy with the move but middlemen who used to make Rs 4,000 per land registry have lost their business. These are the people who would take money from people like me and assure to get the work done."

Recounting the events when Kumar was abused by a handful of unidentified people, an eyewitness said, "There was this group of men some of whom were wearing black coats like the lawyers do. These people entered the office of Mukesh Kumar and began pressurising him to do their work out of turn. Mukesh asked these people to stand in queue and when he refused, the group began abusing him. The incident took place for two consecutive days."

Officialspeak

DC Sumer Singh Gurjar:

The incident that took place the last week is not an isolated case. Government officials do face these kinds of things during the course of their duty. The real fact is that some people try to interfere with the work of the government. Hence, I have asked the SSP to see that proper arrangement of security is made at the sub registrar office.

SSP R K Jaiswal:

I have asked Sarabha Nagar DSP to look into the matter immediately and provide proper security at the office. At the same time, I have also sent a strong message to the group of people who created mischief last week that this kind of offence will not be taken lightly. Here is one honest man, who is trying to put things in the right order and instead of co-operating with him; these anti-social elements try to stop him from carrying his duty.

Sub-Registrar Mukesh Kumar: