The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here. .(Representative image, Reuters)

The Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government today approved the setting up of an anti- land mafia task force to check rampant land grabbing in the state, fulfilling a key poll promise. The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here. “The cabinet has approved the setting up of anti-land mafia task force in the state. It will identify land grabbers in two months and strict action will be initiated against them,” the state power minister Shrikant Sharma told reporters.

No grabbing of public land will be allowed in the name of religion, the minister added. “The construction of religious places on encroached public land will not be allowed irrespective of the religion,” he said. The task force will work under the overall supervision of the state Chief Secretary while various officials ranging from the Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates and Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and will look into the complaints, he said.

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A portal has also been launched in which land grabbing complaints can be registered, he said. “Police has been asked to immediately act on land grabbing complaints and if there is laxity, action will be initiated against the concerned SHO,” he said. The cabinet in its meeting also condemned the Sukma attack and expressed condolences for the jawans, who laid down their lives.