28 yrs on, woman, son booked for fraudulently selling airstrip

The police here have booked a woman and her son for fraudulently selling an Indian Air Force airstrip in connivance with revenue officials.

The airstrip, used by Indian armed forces during the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, was allegedly sold in 1997 by Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand Ansal, natives of Dumni Wala village here.

Taking a note of the allegations, the High Court had earlier ordered the Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, to personally “verify the veracity of the allegations”.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Karan Sharma said an inquiry was conducted into the issue on a complaint submitted to Vigilance Bureau Chief Director by Nishan Singh, the whistle-blower in the case who is a retired kanungo.

As per the probe report, the accused allegedly sold the airstrip, located at Fattuwala village, in collusion with some lower-rung revenue officials.

Earlier in 2021, the Commandant of the Halwara Air Force Station had sent a complaint to the Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner, seeking a probe.

A plea was also filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the inordinate delay in the inquiry.

The Deputy Commissioner was directed to conclude an inquiry within six weeks vide order dated December 21, 2023.

Later, the DC submitted a three-page report, which stated that the land was in the same condition as per revenue records of 1958-59, its possession was still with the Indian Army. However, not satisfied with the report, Nishan Singh filed another petition in the High Court alleging that several facts had been concealed.

In May this year, airstrip was restored to the Ministry of Defence following an inquiry conducted by the district administration.

As per information gathered, this airstrip was part of 982 acres acquired by the British Government in 1939 for the use of the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Punjab