The Thane police have issued an order restricting further construction of a wall at a housing society after the residents accused a Sena leader of land grabbing.

As per a statement given to the Thane police by the Shanitban co-operative housing society, some workers started digging the ground on February 6 this year. They had dug the entire 20 feet stretch for constructing a wall which would have cut access to 5,000 sq ft area meant to be developed as a garden in the society.

“The women in the housing society noticed the men carrying out the digging work. When we objected the workers told us that it was being carried out on the orders of Anant Tare, a Sena leader,” said Bhalchandra Morye, chairman of the housing society.

Then Tare, who is also a former mayor of Thane, arrived at the site and claimed to own the plot. “Tare said that his family cultivated this land and hence he had the right to claim it. The men accompanying him at the site manhandled 75-year-old resident, Rantakar Chavan,” said Nityananda Shirsekar, secretary of the society.

By the time the society members brought the matter to the notice of Police Commissioner Anil Dhere, who directed his subordinates to look into the dispute, a 3-feet wall had already been constructed. Work at the disputed site was stopped after Assistant Commissioner of Police RS Tadvi issued a order under Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and policemen were deployed at the site to maintain peace.

According to the society members, Tare who had developed the land adjoining Shantiban, had attempted to grab this plot in 2004 also. The attempt was aborted after residents brought the matter to the notice of the Rabodi police.

“No where do the government records indicate that Tare has any claim to the plot,” said Morye. When contacted, Tare said, “The land belongs to our family and not to the society. My grandparents cultivated the plot of land as farmers. We will initiate a legal process to transfer the land in our name.” On manhandling of a senior citizen, Tare said that he was not aware of the incident.

Tadvi said, “A hearing will be conducted wherein both the parties will be given an opportunity to present their facts. A decision will be taken based on the findings of proceedings under Section 145 of CrPC.”