SRINAGAR: Nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals, whose houses were demolished by the administration, have lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that the demolition of their tribal habitations violates the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. They have demanded action against officials who razed around 30 habitations in the Raika Bandi and Mahamaya forest belt in Jammu on Tuesday.
Complaint Filed by Councillor
According to Shama Akhtar, the area councillor, the demolished structures were legally protected, and no prior notice, eviction order, rehabilitation plan, or opportunity of hearing was provided before the demolition drive. “We have submitted the complaint with the police and the deputy commissioner. We expect quick action,” Akhtar said.
Government Response
On Wednesday, the Omar Abdullah-led government constituted a two-member committee to investigate the demolitions. According to an order issued by the tribal affairs department, the panel has been directed to submit its report within seven days.
The demolition, which sparked widespread criticism and protests, has once again put the National Conference government at odds with the Lieutenant Governor’s administration. Javed Ahmad Rana, Jammu and Kashmir’s forest and tribal affairs minister, visited the area after the drive and said he was “deeply shocked and outraged by the clandestine unilateral demolition of homes.”
Political Reactions
Mian Altaf Ahmad, National Conference MP from Rajouri Poonch and South Kashmir regions, stated, “This high-handedness by the administration and forest department is unacceptable.”
PDP leader Iltija Mufti, who also visited the area, alleged that the “bulldozer model is being implemented in J&K now.” She added, “What’s deeply worrying and appalling is that unlike Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, the government normalizing and facilitating these patently illegal demolition drives is a non-BJP National Conference government.”
Previous Protests
On May 13, hundreds of protesters led by BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa had taken out a rally on Sidhra Road and later staged a sit-in, demanding the immediate removal of illegal occupants. The protesters raised slogans against “outsider land-grabbers” and warned of a major agitation if immediate action was not taken to stop encroachment of government land.
