Dharmanagar, Sep 6 — In a bizarre case of fraud, a plot of land belonging to a woman who died eight years earlier was illegally transferred in the name of another person, allegedly with the backing of a land mafia operating in collusion with officials of the Dharmanagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office.
The complainant, Shaheen Ahmed Chowdhury of Fulbari Panchayat, Kadamtala Block, said he inherited 70 gandas of land from his late mother, Ahina Bibi, who passed away in 2008. To his shock, the land was allegedly occupied and transferred to the name of his neighbour, Mokarram Ali, on July 13, 2016.
Even more startling, the fraudulent deed bore the signature of his deceased mother — eight years after her death. “It is impossible for my mother to sign documents in 2016. This is a clear case of forgery,” Shaheen alleged.
The matter came to light when Mokarram Ali reportedly began selling portions of the land to others, including to an illegal Bangladeshi woman, Sahida Akter. When Shaheen objected, the fraud was exposed. Verification of records at the Churaibari Tehsil Office and Dharmanagar Sub-Registry Office confirmed that 70 shatak (35 gandas) of the land had been officially transferred in Mokarram Ali’s name. The documents also carried the signature of one Babul Nath.
The revelation has shocked locals in Fulbari, who questioned how land documents could carry the signature of someone long deceased. Residents alleged this is not an isolated case, pointing to past allegations of fraudulent transactions involving the Sub-Registry and SDM offices, as well as collusion between the Churaibari Tehsil Office and local land mafias.
Shaheen has lodged an FIR against Mokarram Ali at Churaibari Police Station and submitted a formal complaint to the SDM’s office seeking justice.