ATTOCK, Aug 2: Three revenue officials allegedly connived with the local land mafia and manipulated revenue records to deprive two farmers of their agricultural land, in the Gharsheen village, it has been learnt.

According to revenue department sources, two farmers —Wazri Muhammad, son of Wali Muhammad and Wasifullah, son of Nasraullah— had lodged a joint complaint at the Attcok anti- corruption department on April 30, 2007 on which an inquiry by the anti-corruption department is underway.

They stated that they had purchased 65 kanals and seven marlas agricultural land in the Gharsheen village, Hassanabdal tehsil, Attock district on Sept 18, 1997, against mutation numbers 1,732 and 1,733. But they were deprived of their ownership rights allegedly by three revenue officials.

These officials included two Patwaris and a Gardawar, with the active connivance of the influential land mafia, forged fake mutations (numbers 4,905, 4,906 and 2,863) by manipulating the revenue records.

Interestingly, the portion of the revenue record these officials tampered with has been very cleverly given a yellowish hue, so that they blend in with and seem part of the old record, they disclosed.

Both complainants have produced documents in support of their claims, including mutations and affidavits to prove that they are the legal owners of the land according to the revenue records, the source maintained.

After receiving the complaint, the anti-corruption department started an inquiry, but the alleged perpetrators also geared up their efforts to hush it up using bureaucratic and political influence, the sources added.

The Attock circle officer (CO) of the anti-corruption department, Shezad Saleem Kyani, confirmed filing of the compliant and said that department had initiated an inquiry soon after it was lodged.

Briefing on the findings of the inquiry so far, he said statements of the concerned revenue officials had been recorded. A report has been also been sought from the Hasanabdal teshildar in this regard.

Besides this, the land revenue record had been obtained from the concerned revenue offices and is being examined to ascertain the facts, he added.