Ranchi: Between January and April (till date), the capital and its fringes have witnessed 16 murders of which nine were triggered by land disputes.

Stunned by such statistics, Ranchi police have now decided to diligently document all land controversies. All the 45 urban and rural thanas will be required to collect data on land brokers/mafia and prepare a dossier that can be accessed both online and offline if and when needed.

Sources in police said a formal order, detailing the new standard operating procedure, was likely to be issued by the office of DIG (South Chotanagpur) within a day or two.

Internal reports of Ranchi police indicate that suburban and rural areas are the flashpoint of land disputes and murders.

"Space in proper city is almost saturated and hence, people are looking for plots in areas like Namkum, Daladali, Ring Road, Ratu, Kanke, Ormanjhi, Nagri and Tupudana. In the city, Lalpur is still a bone of contention. Intelligence inputs suggest jailed gangster Anil Sharma is eying prime plots in Burdwan Compound (Lalpur)," said an officer.

On the fringes, the situation at Barasgadh village under Tupudana thana is volatile because dreaded gangster Genda Singh is keen on capturing nine acres. Last July, Genda's henchmen killed one Rajesh Tirkey for 1.39 acres.

Again, in August last year, Ranchi police had arrested gangster-turned-realty agent Bablu Khan, alias Enamul Haq, who revealed how jailed dons were fighting for control of 28 prime acres in Kanke.

"The cost of land has increased manifold. Land brokering is a source of easy money. Most brokers either have criminal antecedents or at least dubious background. They hire hitmen to eliminate rivals. They are a different breed of criminals posing a big challenge for police. A special cell is required to monitor and control them," said the officer-in-charge of an urban police station.

Another officer said the traditional practice was to close a case once inquiry and arrests were over. But, the need of the hour, he said, was to maintain an archive.

"We have observed that one accused is often involved in multiple cases of land dispute. A newly transferred officer can find the documentation handy. It will also help police identify mafia bosses and their modus operandi. Documentation will be reviewed at the level of DSPs, SPs, and the SSP," he added.

A section of cops also feel that just archiving was a too-little-too-late measure in the wake of reports prepared by the CID (Special Branch) that indicate involvement of organised gangs in land grab cases.

City SP Aman Kumar conceded the challenge and said district police were watchful.

"Since March, at least three murders had land dispute as trigger (that of Sanjay Sahu in Jagannathpur, retired Ranchi University employee Arun Nag in Chutia, Manoj Kumar Sahu in Kanke). Three persons have been arrested in two cases," he said, adding that they had floated a special number (9661806414) for information on the land mafia.

"We are getting inputs and verifying them. Data will be compiled manually and electronically. By next month, records will be available from all thanas."