SIT starts field visit in Madhurawada region

Visakhapatnam: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started field visit and inspected Madhurawada, Kommadi, Marikavalasa, Paradesipalem and Bakkannapalem areas in Vizag city on Tuesday to verify the tampering of government and private records, regarding the land scam. The SIT, headed by DIG rank officer Vineet Brijlal, had received around 3,000 complaints regarding tampering of land records (both government and private), disputes between private parties, private persons encroaching government lands and negligence of officials.

Of the total complaints received by SIT, around 20 per cent are relating to tampering government land records. Sources said that SIT has asked for three more squads as the existing six squads may not be sufficient to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into thousands of complaints. We are waiting for government’s nod to draw some more officers from the police, revenue, stamps and registration departments to expedite the inquiry and to submit a comprehensive report to government, said a senior officer with SIT.

Sources said that initially SIT has decided to submit their report on land scams in Vizag to AP government by August, but it may take some more time as it has to verify thousands of land records. “Our duty is to conduct the inquiry into the land scam and based on our suggestions, police will register the cases against the land grabbers and others, involved in tampering of land records,” said Mr Vineet Brijlal.

So far, the police registered four cases, including one against Anakapalle MLA Peela Govind Satyanarayana, on land grabbing charges based on the SIT recommendations. The SIT officials said the land grabbers tried all what they could to grab the land in Madhurawada, Kommadi, Marikavalasa, Paradesipalem, Ananda-puram and Bakkanna-palem areas in Vizag city.