Hours after special cells were formed to exclusively investigate cases of land grabbing in all districts and Commissionerates, hundreds of complaints poured in from people across the State accusing anti-social elements of grabbing their property or forcing them to part with it.

According to police sources, at least 540 complaints (excluding Chennai) involving property worth a few thousands of crores were received in the last two days. A majority of them were from Salem, Namakkal and Kancheepuram districts. Many Non-Resident Indians have also come forward with petitions and sought action. Police have warned that gangsters habitually involved in offences of land grabbing would be detained under the Goondas Act.

“We have already started restoring property to the legitimate owners. In Udumalpet, a paper mill owner was thrown out by some persons who took over the property worth about Rs. 9 crore. After a thorough investigation, police restored the property to the owner and action is being taken against the culprits,” Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S. George who ordered the creation of special cells said.

He said victims of forcible eviction and fake documents were thronging the special cells. Apparently, the accused in almost all the complaints were politically connected. “Instructions have been given to take firm action against any person found guilty. Slackness on the part of police in investigating these complaints will not be tolerated. Putting an end to land grabbing is among our top priorities now…we will ensure that justice is done to the aggrieved,” Mr. George said.

Encouraged by the number of complaints, police are thinking of strengthening the special cells with more manpower and infrastructure. In Kancheepuram district, Superintendent of Police S. Manoharan said an exclusive mobile number (9445796900) was established to receive complaints round-the-clock.

In Madurai district, a special team formed by the Superintendent of Police Asra Garg busted a major land mafia that allegedly took possession of over 150 acres of land worth about Rs. 1,000 crore. “The accused used fake documents to systematically take over the property belonging to hundreds of families. We have restored the property to them and arrested the gang involved,” Mr. Garg said.

In Chennai City, the Central Crime Branch police on Tuesday arrested five persons who tried to sell the property of an NRI. The accused created fake documents and registered the property at Ramapuram belonging to Navin Babu (27) who works as a software engineer in Canada.

When they tried to sell the land worth Rs. 75 lakh to another person, Babu's father sensed foul play and lodged a complaint with the police following which the action was taken.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Adyar) K.A. Senthil Velan said several complaints of land grabbing were received involving lands or houses along the East Coast Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai (Old Mahabalipuram Road). “We have arrested a few persons and efforts are on to apprehend Ravi Chandran, the Perungudi Town Panchayat councillor of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam,” he said.