Death Threats and Police......

kullu gang

Hi IM,s need advice in dealing with the police.I married my wife who is from Kullu 14 years ago in that time we have lived in the UK for 8 years and returned with our two children to kullu 3 years ago to settle.In our time away our house was destroyed the police said as no one was living there at the time they can do nothing about it so we sold it as we did not feel safe in that area.8 months ago we purchased some land near my inlaws to feel a bit safter ,we were shown the plot which had a eletrical pole on and water but we did need these moved and after applying they were moved 6 monthes later.For 1 month labourous have been cutting stone then last week I got a jcb to start cutting a plot out.(I have forgotten to mention that the land registry was completed before this work commenced and that the budwari would not come up to confirm the plot and that the owner confirm what land was his as is sister and brother also have land there).
Two weeks ago we started to get phone calls from the seller saying he wanted more money if he didnt get it he would put me and my wife in prison these calls were always 4.00am in the morning.When we refused to give more money then what we agreed to originally we were contacted by a lawyer in kullu to come down and reach a comprimise so we agreed to pay a extra Rs15000 in return I wanted a affidavit from him saying he would now stop harrasing us which he signed.Since then all hell has be set loose we got threats of our house we are staying in will be burnt down and my children will be kidnapped then the day after the threats the forest department came up said to the contractor that was digging that it is goverment land and took away all tools and machinary they did not once contact us and ask for any papers. My wife went to the forest department and took all our paper work where they said that it is goverment land and now they will file a FIR and put my wife in prison.We then went to the police to file two complaints one for threating our family and one for giving false imformation on what land was his the police refused both complaints was rude to my wife.That night we got a phone call at 11.30pm saying keep away from the police or nobody would see us again the next night my wife brother in law got a phone call to say if any of the family help us they will be finished.
My question to anyone that has experiance anything like this is what did you do ,we are at the minute packing and going away for a few days to another location for our own safety until we get some advice on what to do I have emailed the british foreign office but as yet have received no reply any advice would be appeiciated.

regards Kullu

cityMONK

oh so there are gang wars in himachal.
police is no doubt currupt, judiciary is more currupt.
curruption has one advantage YOU pay them and they will work for you.Like your opponents are using muscle power of goons you hire some currupt police men on your side they will automatically show you the way.do not belive your lawyers blindly as they would be interested in case being prolonged without any compromise.also talk to your opponent directly some way out will come out positively.you can talk to CM of state, who are normally
currupt again, with proper contacts he may help you in lieu of some money.

My dear, judges, CMs, lawayers all will ask money, why not to compromise with opponent it may cost much less.watch the movie
"KHOSLA KA GHONSLA" it will help in clearing the picture.

vegan

Kullu,

Sorry to hear about your plight. I am no expert in these matters and am not a lawyer but my strong advice is to seek out help of a lawyer.

My suspicion is that the land does belong to the forest department and the seller falsely sold this land to you. I doubt you will get your land back or even the money you paid to the crooks you 'sold' you the land. I hope my suspicions are wrong and things turn up well for you. (A possibility is that somebody from the forest department is corrupt.)

Regarding threats of physical violence, while they are not to be taken lightly, in my experience are just to intimidate and one should not stress too much over them while still being cautious.

Unfortunately such incidents are common in India and recently my brother has been fighting similar crooks (called bhumafia a short form for bhumi (land) mafia) over a piece of land he bought near Delhi. They are not above falsifying document, intimidation, lying and all evils imaginable.

My sincere well wishes for you. Please make sure you fight well for your rights while taking precautionary care of yourself and your family.

BTW in my bother's case we had to gift the local cops, local gangster, seek help from senior police and district through personal contacts and matters got resolved somewhat. Yesterday some gangsters threatenen our staff living in that plot that they will kill him and reclaim this plot. My brother is going there today and we might have to gift some more and make some complaints againt the local gansters. Hopefully over passage of time this will die down.

PS Use all your contacts in making maximum noise. Gangsters are afraid of media - try to get hold of local and British press. Contact the highest authorities, if possible. If you do decide to gift, make sure it is not excessive. Seek help of some local ganster on things to be dome. GL.

kullu gang

So you are suggesting the man that has duped me and theatened three forgein nationals with there lives be paid off for falsly giving information to us I dont see your logic......what I have done is contacted all my freinds and family on facebook to start a petition to be sent to Delhi to accuire why when a forigner has death threats the police take no action especially in an area that has been dubbed death valley.

kullu gang

Thank you vegan for sound advice I have been sending emails out to family and friends this morning luckly one friends sisters husband works for the BBC so media coverage seems very possible.

vegan

kullu, please don't ignore the local media since they seem to love to expose such events. If I were you I will write an article as if written by a reporter, with some photographs, and contact the editors of all local newspapers preferably though someone known to them. Local media has to fill space in its publications and they might publish the article after interviewing opposing parties and editing. BBC might be too busy. Good luck.

kullu gang

Thanks vegan sound advice and things are started to happen my wifes brother in law in kullu contacted the MLA who was his class fellow years ago we have been appointed to see the SP Of police tomorrow morning any advice on how to approch him I know to take photos of what I have and the phone numbers that have been threatning I have been told his a good man fair is what I have been told shall we speak from the heart or be firm thanks Kullu

vegan

I will suggest to speak from the heart. SP will be most likely on your side. Not that they are not corrupt many of them are but they do it on very large projects involving crores of rupees. In smaller matters like you, even though it obviously is big for you, he will be most likely fair and listen to you carefully and will make sound recommendations. Of course trust your instincts. However, it will in almost all cases won't pay to be firm with him.

To prepare for this it might be good to make a list of things you
you want to say and make a copy of that too. He might need that for his staff.

Later if he is helpful, try to meet him to keep him abreast of events and if possible take some token gifts (no cash) for him to show your appreciation. Ask his staff, if possible, about his likes and dislikes.

Paleface

Oh shit bad scene.... Yes SP & MLA sound best routes for now - Before that try registering a NCR (Non cognisance report) at the local police Thana, saying that you family & possessions are being threatened. If the Thana refuses then you report this to the SP, if he refuses then inform DGP HP. Meanwhile contact as many newspaper people as you know and get them on to the case - i.e. Death Valley, bad PR for tourism etc & that you will make a big noise about all this. But i wonder why the land is in dispute - Did you have the Patwari check the land on the Katoni (ownership record) before purchase - because I am afraid that you did not get the land physically verified by the Patwari before beginning work, that verification could have cost just Rs. 500 chai/pani, but always well worth it. You must try and getthe Patwari to verify the land physically as the plot you have bought may not be what you think.

Look if it is any consolation, i have found that threateners courage on the phone usually dissolves when confronted - so Fwits make a noise and jump up & down, but will very rarely carry out any threats. I mean these are not anonymous now, so already these people are making mistakes, and will make more of them, slowly bringing the thing round to your favour.

PM us the details, or post here as my wife's sister is at Times of India. Stay cool, be brave - we are here to help...

__________________
Only a mediocre person is always at his best. Somerset Maugham.

jituyadav

First, if the land was bought without proper verifications and it actually is a forest land then you cannot do anything. Although it seems unlikely as your in-laws are locals. If it is actually a clean deal then go through the process of filing the police complaint (It is not a banana republic that you would not be able to do it).Forget about the threats as they are only there until you fear them. And who in the world gives death threat and signs an affidavit for not harassing in future, this is the biggest proof you have got to nail them. It is your land and you should not succumb to such threats. Talking of a compromise with the very people who are threatening is ridiculous. What do we have next, robbers getting paid after the loot and a rape victim paying the rapist!!
An electric pole and water moved after your application itself proves that you are the owner. Just two things, labourers cutting stones for one month and a JCB requirement after that! Hope that you were not into illegal stone mining and second, make sure that your in-laws want you there.

__________________
I started with nothing and I still have most of it!

cityMONK

You have already paid once to people who are threatening you.
And they have signed an affidavit not to do so again. I only
Suggested to sort things out locally and economically.

I have never heard of "Death Valley" regarding area you are
Mentioning.

I want to get clarification on following points

1. Why was your first house destroyed?
2. If by natural calamity what can police do about it.
3. If somebody else has destroyed that than whom do you suspect?
4. Are your in-laws of same socio economic back ground like you?
5. Nobody among them is jealous of you affluence.
6. What do you think is root cause of problem?
7. where is death valley, you are mentioning.

Do not worry about forest land manali is full of resorts on forest land.
Meet the SP with open mind he will show you the way

kullu gang

No you suggested to comprimise with villians and pay them to stop. Confused????
1. While we were in the uk my servant left the house without any notice,the doors were destroyed windows smashed electrical wire removed and fires started in every room. when we settled in the village we were asked for buksheesh from the temple prists overwise we will get problems we never paid.This man is now involved in a police case for steeling 8 lakh of temple funds.

2.Not natural calamity

3.The prist

Nick-H

All this sounds like a nightmare. All I can offer is sympathy.

cityMONK

o.k.
may be he is part of mafia troubling you people.Do not be afraid of such people these back stabbers can be dealt very easly.now people are a educated lot and can not be mislead by priest kind of leaders/gundas.i will tell you how to tackle such miscreants.

what about other, may be hurting, questions(Poilice would any way be asking these to you.) about your in-laws.you have confidence in them.

kullu gang

Hi paleface you might have read my purchase on what can you buy in the hills for 5 lakh many months before ,I did mention there that the patwari in this area is just impossible to come to any plot not just mine.We stupidly took his word as we didnt want to wait anymore but not just his word but people in the area that vouched to confirm that the plot was his even after 3 days the forest department dont know if the land is forest or not.Thank you for your kind words of encougament it is appriciated at this streesful time I will email you tomorrow with the outcome of the meeting to see if they will take any action thanks again for your words of encougement

Kind Regards Kullu