MURREE, March 1 Local police have registered cases against 98 people for allegedly encroaching forest land in different areas of the mountain town, a police official told Dawn on Monday.

Murree Station House Office (SHO) Munsaf Khan said the forest department had identified the names of the alleged land grabbers in Phagwari, New Murree, Ghora Gali, Expressway, Manga and other areas.

It has been learnt that applications were also submitted against big housing societies, including the OGDCL Cooperative Housing Society, Bahria Town and Judicial Town, but the police did not registered cases against their influential owners.

SHO Khan said the police would submit challans against the accused in the court of law after that the forest department produced some evidence to prove the allegations.

He was of the view that record of land demarcation available with the revenue department could clarify the claims.

It is worth mentioning here that the cases have been registered just a day before the Lahore High Court (LHC) is scheduled to hold a hearing in a case concerning encroachments.

The case was constituted after LHC Chief Justice Khwaja Mohammad Sharif took suo motu notice of the issue.

Meanwhile, scores of people who have constructed houses on the land claimed their ancestors had given it on lease to the British government before the partition, alleging that the Punjab government 'fraudulently' transferred it in its name in early 70s.

They accused the forest department of involvement in land grabbing, and said they would fight their case in the court and prove ownership of the land.