A World War II-era airstrip in Fattuwala village, used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, was nearly erased from history books after being fraudulently sold to private individuals in 1997. However, thanks to the persistence of a retired revenue official, Nishan Singh, the truth has finally come to light.

According to reports, Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand allegedly connived with revenue officials to sell the airstrip, which was used as an Advance Landing Ground (ALG) by the IAF. The mother-son duo, currently based in Delhi, have been booked under various sections of the IPC, including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

The matter first came to light in 1997, but it took years of legal battles and pressure from Nishan Singh for the authorities to take action. In April 2021, the commandant of the Halwara Air Force Station formally lodged a complaint, and after a prolonged investigation, an FIR was registered against the accused in May 2025.

The airstrip has now been restored to the Ministry of Defence, and the investigation is ongoing. Police expect more arrests to follow. Nishan Singh’s efforts have ensured that a piece of history is preserved, and the land is back in the hands of the rightful owners.