Widow Alleges Police Extortion and Land Grabbing in Pilibhit
A widow in Pilibhit accuses police officers of demanding 5 lakh rupees to facilitate illegal land grabbing and filing false cases.
A shocking case of alleged corruption and harassment has emerged from Pilibhit, where a widow has accused local police officers of demanding a massive bribe to facilitate the illegal occupation of her property. Poonam Rana, a resident of Mohalla Sakra-Lakda, has approached the Superintendent of Police with a harrowing account of extortion, threats, and land grabbing involving the Pilibhit Kotwali police.
The Dispute Over the Dilapidated Shop
The conflict centers around two dilapidated shops owned by Poonam Rana, the wife of the late Khadkan Verma, located on Iqbal Colony Road. According to the complaint, one of these shops had been rented out to a man named Amit Kumar Saxena for a monthly rent of 1,500 rupees.
The situation escalated in mid-September. On September 14, in the presence of the Tehsildar, Saxena had reportedly given his word that he would vacate the premises by 10 a.m. the following morning, September 15. However, the promise went unfulfilled, leaving Rana in a precarious position.
Violence and Intimidation
Due to the crumbling condition of the building, Rana eventually hired laborers to have the shop vacated. This move triggered a violent reaction. Rana alleges that Amit Kumar Saxena, accompanied by Deepak Saxena, Vipin, Dayal, and Ashish, launched an assault on her and her family members.
The attackers reportedly issued death threats before forcibly reoccupying the shop. In a blatant display of defiance, Rana claims the group began consuming alcohol inside the premises after seizing control of the property.
Allegations of Police Collusion
The most serious part of the complaint involves the very officials tasked with upholding the law. Poonam Rana has accused the Khakra outpost in-charge, Saurabh Kumar, and City Circle Officer Amar Nath Verma of exploiting her distress for financial gain.
Rana alleges that the two officers demanded 500,000 rupees (5 lakh) from her. She claims the officers stated that the issue would be "resolved" only if this sum was paid. Furthermore, she alleges that the police threatened to file false cases against her to pressure her into submission and facilitate the illegal occupation of her land.
Seeking justice and protection, Rana formally lodged her complaint with the Superintendent of Police on October 21, demanding strict action against the erring officers of the Pilibhit Kotwali police.