Kashmir nomads file ‘atrocity’ complaint after demolition of their houses | India News
SRINAGAR: Nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals, whose houses have been demolished by the administration, have filed a complaint with the police, alleging that the “demolition of their tribal habitations” is a violation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006.They demanded action against officials who destroyed about 30 homesteads in Raika Bandi and Mahamaya forest areas of Jammu on Tuesday.According to area councilor Shama Akhtar, the demolished structures were protected under the law and were not given any prior notice, eviction order, rehabilitation plan or hearing before the demolition drive. “We have submitted a complaint to the police and the district commissioner. We expect quick action,” Akhtar said.On Wednesday, the Omar Abdullah government constituted a two-member committee to investigate the devastation. According to the order issued by the Department of Tribal Affairs, the panel has been asked to submit its report within seven days.The demolition, which led to widespread criticism and protests, has once again put the state’s National Conference government at loggerheads with the LG administration. J&K’s Forest and Tribal Affairs Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, who visited the area after the raid, said he was “deeply shocked and outraged by the covert unilateral destruction of houses”.“This blunder by the administration and the forest department is unacceptable,” said Mia Altaf Ahmed, NC MP from Rajouri Poonch and South Kashmir region.PDP leader Iltiza Mufti, who visited the area, said “the bulldozer model is now being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.” “What is deeply worrisome and appalling is that unlike in UP and West Bengal, a non-BJP NC government has normalized and facilitated these blatantly illegal demolition operations,” he alleged.On May 13, hundreds of protesters led by BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa held a rally at Sidhra Road and later staged a sit-in demanding the immediate eviction of the illegal occupiers. The protesters raised slogans against “foreign land grabbers” and warned of major agitation if immediate action is not taken to stop government land grabbing.
