Search for parents uncovers plot to disrupt Noida airport's land acquisition process

Indian Express

02-07-2025

Just 5 km away from the Noida International Airport, coming up at Jewar, stands a rehab and rehabilitation (R&R) site, an exposed brick house with a lock hanging on its brown iron gate. The house in Rohi village, according to villagers, was allocated to 75-year-old Hansraj — a farmer who had allegedly refused to give up land for the airport project — and his family by the local administration.
Last Friday, the Greater Noida Police had rescued Hansraj, along with his wife Kamlesh Devi and elder son Saurabh, from outside Dayanatpur village in Jewar. Five persons, including a pilot working with a commercial airline, were arrested on Saturday for allegedly orchestrating the abduction as part of a plot to disrupt the airport's land acquisition process and reap illegal financial rewards.
The police identified the accused as Captain Puttan Singh and his wife Sarojbala, residents of Noida's Sector 135; Pawan Chaudhary and Pramod, residents of Dayanatpur village; and Ramadevi, a resident of Maidan Garhi in Delhi.
The police said the involvement of the five accused came to light when the farmer's younger son, Sonu, moved the Allahabad High Court on June 2, accusing the police and administrative officials of kidnapping his family.
The court went on to order the police to present Hansraj and his family before it. The matter will now be heard on July 7.
Earlier, Greater Noida DCP Saad Miya Khan had told mediapersons that Hansraj and his family were among the residents of the six villages that were rehabilitated during the first stage of the airport's development. 'However, Hansraj, Kamlesh Devi, Saurabh, and Sonu objected to the shift to the R&R site and had been staying at their house in Rohi for the last three years. On May 29, they were moved by the Jewar sub-district magistrate to the R&R site.'
Their ordeal allegedly began soon after.
When The Indian Express visited Rohi on Monday, the house allocated to Hansraj was found empty. Inside the house, lay a pile of clothes, three cots, and several plastic fruit baskets. The neighbours said they have no idea of the family's whereabouts. 'Around 4 pm on May 29, two vehicles – a small truck and a tractor – loaded with household items arrived… They dumped the items inside the house and left,' a neighbour said.
Two hours later, as he does every day, Saurabh came to his aunt's house to hand over milk. 'He was accompanied by a policeman… When I asked him about his parents, he said that Hansraj had to be admitted to Kailash Hospital after he suffered an asthmatic attack while they were being shifted to the R&R site.'
'By 7 pm, we reached the hospital but were stopped at the gate by the police. They told us that no one is supposed to meet the family… We then came back,' said Saurabh's cousin.
Following this, on June 2, Sonu moved HC, filing a Habeas Corpus petition against the police and administrative officers. He alleged they had illegally detained his father, mother, and brother.
On June 4, Hansraj was allegedly discharged from the hospital, said his brother. Hansraj, along with his wife and Saurabh, came to stay at his house in Rohi, he added.
While the police have said that Hansraj had taken compensation for the project, his brother claimed that Hansraj had not given up his land.
'In 2018, when we were asked to vacate our land, while we gave in, Hansraj decided not to give up his land. He was under the influence of some farmers and did not vacate the land. He neither took any compensation,' he told The Indian Express.
'Around the end of 2020, we were given compensation for our land… In 2021, we started building our house, while staying on rent in Ranhera village and shifted in October,' he added.
'When Hansraj was discharged from the hospital on June 4, he was unwell. He complained of diarrhoea, stomach ache, and his left foot was swollen. We were concerned and asked him to stay with us,' he further said.
He added that on June 6, around 10.35 pm, when Hansraj's condition deteriorated, Saurabh took him and his mother away. 'He said he was taking his father to the hospital… They never returned.'
According to DCP Khan, the pilot, who is the mastermind in the case, abducted the three on June 6 on the pretext of taking them to another hospital for better treatment and held them hostage in a secluded enclosure outside Dayanatpur.
Last Friday, Hansraj's brother said they received a call from the police, informing them that the three had been found.
The police, in a statement, have said that on June 9, Sonu's petition was accepted by the HC, which directed the police to present the three before it by June 11. 'When we failed to do so, the HC shifted the hearing to July 7. We set up seven teams and found that the accused had illegally confined the family. On June 27, we recovered them from Pawan's house,' said DCP Khan.