Reacting to the ongoing demolition drive by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation and the Collectorate to free encroached land, the Commissioner of Police, Sudhir Sinha, has issued the order. This is for the first time that a senior police officer has raised such an issue against the landgrabbers who have made money by developing societies on government land.

Even though thousands of acres of land have been freed after demolishing several hundred houses, not a single police case has been registered against the builders.

The senior policeman has also sought information on demolition drives conducted during the last two years where police protection to demolition squads was provided. He has asked the local authorities to register FIRs against the builders.

“To construct societies on government land is a crime. Demolition drives do serve the purpose of removing encroachment, but action should also be taken against those who build the colonies,” said Sinha.

Sinha has issued clear instructions to his branch to make a request to local bodies to register an FIR when they come to seek police protection. “The police will insist on it,” he added.