Patna, Dec. 25: A land worth crores has become a burden for a retired government engineer and his family.

Mathura Singh, a resident of Raja Bazaar, and his family members have confined themselves to their residence for the past five days after receiving threat calls from a builder.

He received a call from one Anil Singh threatening him to vacate his 5.75 cottahs of land at CDA Colony. The caller also asked Mathura to pay Rs 25 lakh. Else, he and his family members would face dire consequences.

Mathura’s biggest concern is that despite informing the nearest police station and a few senior cops about the call, he has not been provided protection yet.

Mathura, 65, lives with his wife, two sons, a daughter and a daughter-in-law. He said: “On December 21, I received a call around 11.30pm from an unknown number (8002701389). The caller identified himself as Anil Singh. He asked me to vacate my land at CDA Colony in Sheikhpura and pay Rs 25 lakh.” When The Telegraph tried calling the number from which Mathura received the call, it was unreachable.

“The caller not only asked me to vacate the land and pay Rs 25 lakh but also threatened that if I tried to inform the police I would face dire consequences. The caller said he (Anil) had thousands of people who could do anything if he ordered. Anil said he also has connections in the police and in the government,” added Mathura.

The estimated value of Mathura’s land is more than Rs 1.5 crore at present. Builders in the city are eyeing the land as the price of real estate in the capital has skyrocketed in the recent years. Sources said in Raja Bazaar, a land measuring one cottah is valued at Rs 30 to Rs 35 lakh.

The threat call came as a shock to Mathura, who was initially afraid to report the incident to the police. Later, Mathura’s eldest son Rakesh Bhushan contacted senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar and city superintendent of police (west) Upendra Kumar Sharma and informed them about the call. Both directed Mathura to lodge an FIR at Shastri Nagar police station, which Mathura did on December 22.

“It is an irony that I am being asked to vacate the land that is mine. This is what Nitish Kumar’s susashan (good governance) is.” Shastri Nagar station house officer said: “It is difficult to provide security to each and every person within the police station limits.”

Sources said some officers of Shastri Nagar police station asked Mathura to settle the case with Anil, claiming that he was powerful.

In 1994, Mathura’s father-in-law handed over the land to him and legal papers were made. But around one-and-a-half years ago, Mathura’s brother-in-law Dhananjay Singh illegally gave the plot’s power of attorney to Anil, to which Mathura opposed and even moved the court. In April 2011, Anil sold the land to another builder, M/s Take Construction Private Limited, illegally.

In July, the court of deputy collector, land reforms, directed the district administration and police to vacate Mathura’s land within 30 days. But neither the police nor the district administration took any initiative to vacate it.

LAND POSER

Bone of contention l5.75 cottah land at CDA Colony

Owner Allegedly Mathura Singh, a retired government engineer

Threat caller Anil Singh, a builder

The dispute In 1994, Mathura’s father-in-law handed over the land to him

Around one-and- a-half years ago, Mathura’s brother- in-law Dhananjay Singh illegally handed over the land’s power of attorney to Anil

Mathura opposed and approached the court

In April 2011, Anil sold the land to another builder M/s Take Construction Private Limited illegally

In July this year, deputy collector land reforms court passed a judgment in favour of Mathura directing the district administration and police to vacate the land within 30 days