IAF’s Wartime Airstrip Illegally Sold, 28-Year Land Scam Sparks National Outrage

A Legacy Betrayed: How a Wartime Airstrip Was Erased from Records

In a revelation that has stunned the nation, a World War II-era Indian Air Force airstrip, once pivotal in India’s military history, was fraudulently sold off in 1997 by a woman and her son in Punjab’s Fattuwala village, near the Pakistan border. The airstrip, used as an Advance Landing Ground (ALG) during the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, had been acquired by the British administration in 1945 and remained under IAF control for decades.

The accused, Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand, residents of Dumniwala village, allegedly colluded with revenue officials to forge land records and transfer ownership to private individuals. The scam remained buried for nearly three decades until whistleblower Nishan Singh, a retired revenue officer, filed a complaint that eventually reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Despite a preliminary inquiry in 2021 and a formal complaint by the Halwara Air Force Station commandant, no action was taken for years. It wasn’t until December 2023, when the High Court ordered a time-bound investigation, that the case gained momentum. In May 2025, the land was finally restored to the Ministry of Defence, and an FIR was registered under IPC Sections 419, 420, 465, 467, 471, and 120-B.

Forgery, Fraud, and Silence: Anatomy of a 28-Year Cover-Up

The scale of deception is staggering. According to the vigilance probe, the accused used forged documents to impersonate heirs of the original landowner, Madan Mohal Lal, who had died in 1991. Despite his death, sale deeds were executed in 1997, and by 2009-10, the land was shown in official records as belonging to private individuals, without any formal transfer from the IAF.

The scam was allegedly facilitated by complicit revenue officials, who manipulated the Jamabandi (land record) entries and ignored the IAF’s continued possession of the land. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has now launched a full-scale investigation, led by DSP Karan Sharma, to identify all those involved in the conspiracy.

The High Court, in its scathing remarks, reprimanded the Ferozepur deputy commissioner for “gross inaction” and warned of the national security implications of such negligence. “This is not just a land scam, it’s a betrayal of military heritage and a breach of national trust,” said Justice Harjit Singh Brar in his order.

National Heritage at Risk: Why This Case Matters

The Fattuwala airstrip is more than just a patch of land, it’s a symbol of India’s wartime resilience. Used during three major conflicts, it served as a lifeline for troops and supplies in the western theatre. Its erasure from official records is not just an administrative lapse, it’s a historical erasure.

The case has reignited calls for:

• Digitization and centralization of defence land records
• Stricter oversight of revenue departments
• Legal safeguards for heritage military infrastructure
• Swift prosecution of those involved in defence land fraud

Defence analysts warn that if such scams go unchecked, strategic assets near sensitive borders could be compromised. “This isn’t just about land, it’s about sovereignty,” said retired Air Marshal R.K. Sharma.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has vowed to tighten protocols and audit all Advance Landing Grounds across the country. The case is also expected to influence upcoming legislation on defence land protection and heritage preservation.

Conclusion:
The Ferozepur airstrip scandal is a sobering reminder of how bureaucratic apathy and corruption can endanger national security and erase historical legacy. Thanks to the persistence of a whistleblower and judicial intervention, justice may finally be catching up. But the real question remains: how many more such stories lie buried beneath forged papers and forgotten files?

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