The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Department of Wildlife Protection has transferred over 200 kanals of land to different agencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

An application filed under the Right to Information Act by social activist MM Shuja reveals that nearly 10 kanals of land from Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary has been given to the Ministry of Defense, Government of India for laying underground optical fibre cable for Indian Army by the Director General of Signal, Ministry of Defense, GOI.

The data, as per the news agency KNT, further reveals that the National Highway Authority of India has secured over 187 kanals of land owned by the Department of Wildlife Protection at two places. This land has been transferred to construct a four-lanning on the National Highway in Ramnagar and the development of Package 17 of the Delhi-Katra Expressway.

Nearly 20 kanals of land have been secured by the Government of India under PMGSY for the construction of a road from Mantlai to Gamsadu and again for the construction of a road from Barkunda to Kharwa.

The data reveals that over 13 kanals of land belonging to the Department of Wildlife Protection have either been encroached on or are in the possession of private or government agencies.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor on Monday lashed out at the mainstream parties for opposing the land for landless, stating that these people are responsible for the killings of 50,000 innocent people.

“These people can’t digest peace as they don’t want it. They were provoking people to promote street violence and see the closure of schools and colleges. These people are responsible for the killing of 40,000 to 50,000 innocents in J&K,” the LG said while addressing a three-day national workshop on 'Panchayat with Good Governance' at Convention Centre here, as per the news agency KNO. He, however, didn’t name any political party or a person.

Pertinently, National Conference Vice-president Omar Abdullah had questioned who were the homeless and landless in J&K while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti too had cast aspersions on the allotment of land and homes to the “homeless.”

Asking Sarpanchs, Panchs, BDCs and DDCs as to whether they can pinpoint a single case where land or home was provided to a non-J&K resident under PMAY, the LG said, “There was much noise that land is being provided to the non-J&K residents. Not a single non-J&K resident has been provided land or home under PMAY,” he said.

The LG said that some people keep on asking a question about what has changed in the past four years. “They can’t see peace prevailing in J&K. Street violence, which was routine, has ended and schools and colleges remain open throughout the year. People would be seen leaving for their homes soon after sunset, but today, even after 10 pm, restaurants and hotels are open. Youth including boys, girls and even the elderly spend time playing music or enjoying ice creams on the Jehlum front. This is what has changed,” he said and added, “This is indeed a big change.”

He said those not able to digest peace continue to provoke people on one or the other pretext to revive street violence.

The LG said that in the past four years, many national and international events were held in Srinagar but today’s event on Panchayati Raj is the biggest one.

“I believe real governance flows through Panchayats. Village with good governance is a dream of every Panchayat that will be fulfilled,” he said, adding that 30,000 projects are underway at the Panchayat level. “Funds, Function and Functionary has been streamlined and people are enjoying and reaping the benefits of the Panchayati Raj system,” the LG said.

BARAMULLA — Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that no outsider was being given land under Pradhan Mantri’s Awas Yojna (PMAY) and those who grabbed state land illegally should stop misleading people.

Addressing a function at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla district of north Kashmir, the LG as per the news agency KNO said that many people came to him stating that they were eligible for the PMAY but they had no land.

“So the administration took a review and decided to give such families 5 malras land under PMAY so that they can construct their own houses. So far, 1,99500 homes have been sanctioned for homeless families. The figure includes 46000 SC and ST category families who were eligible for the scheme besides 2711 families who had no land,” he said. “Unfortunately, some people are misleading the people by claiming that land is being given to outsiders. No outsider is being given land in J&K.”

Without naming any political party or leader, the LG said that those who grabbed state land and constructed huge houses, not with their own money, should stop misleading people. “These people should stop creating confusion. I would not go into where they got money to construct huge palaces on illegally encroached state land,” the LG said.

The LG also inaugurated a multipurpose 100-seater cinema hall at Maqbool Sherwani Hall, Baramulla. He said after 30 years of gap, Baramulla has got a 100-seater cinema hall. “This cinema at Maqbool Sherwani Hall Baramulla will not just be the source of entertainment but also a great source of learning for the youth who want to excel in education, technology and art,” he said.

Seeking support from people for cementing peace in J&K, the LG said that security forces and police are doing a great job but it is the collective responsibility of every single citizen to contribute towards peace building in J&K.

The LG said that he was open to all suggestions regarding making J&K prosperous. “But if there are political suggestions, I was not interested in the past neither will be I interested in them in the future,” he said.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday lashed out at the regional parties who have opposed the recent decision of giving 'homes to homeless', stating that “gone are the days when some people were acting as the owners of government property and funds.”

Addressing the National Tribal Festival at SKICC here, the LG, as per the news agency KNO, said that the recent announcement of giving land to 2711 landless families and homes to those who are homeless has pinched some people who have started to oppose the move.

“I want to tell them that gone are the days when they were treating themselves as the owners of government property and funds. Gone are the days when they were taking decisions that suit their political interests. They grabbed state land, constructed huge houses for themselves and left the poor to suffer. The same people are now misleading the common people,” the LG said in an obvious reference to National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and other regional politicians who had opposed the administration’s decision.

While Omar had questioned who were the homeless in J&K, PDP chief Mehbooba had stated that the move was aimed to convert J&K into a slum by bringing outsiders to settle here.

The LG said that Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana was implemented across the country except for J&K. “Now that the scheme is being implemented in J&K too, some people feel the pain. This is PM (Narendra Modi’s) dream and will be fulfilled,” he said. “Each homeless family will get 5 malras of land, so that they can build their dream house.”

Praising the tribal community for their contribution to the 'peaceful and developed' J&K, the LG said that a series of steps have been made for the welfare of tribal people that include training tools and that there is a proposal to conduct buyer-seller meets for them as well.

“Efforts are on to train the tribal youth for prestigious exams and ensure free coaching for them,” the LG said. He said that the ancestors of the tribal community have paid huge sacrifices for J&K even after suffering a lot.

“August 5, 2019 was a historic day for the tribal community as the day ended disparity for them,” the LG said and added that not just the Tribal Affairs Department but other departments of the administration will work with close synergy for the welfare of tribals.

He said that a fresh web portal will have a database of all four lakh tribal people in J&K that will help track them anytime. “There will be free transport for the tribals during their migration period so that they can reach their destinations within two days instead of a month. Free ambulance services will also be provided to them. Primary health services will also be set up to cater to the health needs of tribals,” the LG said.

He also announced that Tribal Affairs Institute (TAI) will be further upgraded and youth will be trained to extract herbs in forests.

SRINAGAR — National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, JKPC chief Sajjad Lone and former J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Thursday asked the government to come clean on the issue of “Home to Homeless”.

Omar Abdullah said that before providing land to the homeless, the Jammu and Kashmir Government should clarify which people it is counting as homeless. “Are those who arrived in J&K just a week ago also counted as homeless? I believe those who arrived in Kashmir after 2019 should not be included in the scheme. We are aware that the government has brought in a large number of outsiders to J&K since August 2019,” he said responding to a question by media on the sidelines of a function in Budgam.

He said that the government should first explain what yardstick it was employing to establish homelessness.

Responding to another question on the Union government's proposed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, Omar Abdullah said, “The National Conference would not support any proposal that would harm the country's minorities. As of now, there is no concrete draft of a UCC for us to respond to.”

Omar said that the government also had to understand that when the laws of the country were being made after independence, at that time Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues talked about a uniform civil code for the country but the Sangh Parivar opposed it because “they did not want such a law. we will wait for what will be the proposals of the government and how we will take everyone together and as far as the question of the National Conference is concerned, we will not support any draft that harms the minorities.”

J&K People's Conference President, Sajjad Gani Lone, also strongly emphasized the need for the government to clarify the eligibility criteria for 'Land for Landless' scheme and restrict land allocation solely to the erstwhile state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir, without including any new domicile holders after August 5, 2019.

In a statement released to the news agency GNS, Lone expressed concerns regarding the eligibility criteria for land allocation to the landless and homeless in J&K and urged the administration to provide a clear and unequivocal clarification on the issue.

“Now that questions are being raised, it will be prudent for the state administration to make it clear whether providing land to the landless and homeless, comprises of only the erstwhile domicile holders pre-August 5, 2019. Per se, if lists have been framed prior to 2019, as asserted by the Rural Development Department, the list will not comprise any newcomers. Clarification is a must,” he said.

Lone further asserted that it is crucial to uphold the rights of the erstwhile state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir when allocating land to the landless and homeless. "To protect the interests of the local population, the government must clearly specify that no new domicile holders after August 5, 2019, should be included in the land allocation process”, he added.

Former J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Ghulam Ahmad Mir also asked the government to come clean on the issue of homes to homeless families and apprise people as to who is homeless and how they have been categorized.

The move is being considered another assault on J&K after downgrading it into two UTs. People are feeling threatened and apprehensive about their future given the misadventure and unexpected decisions of the BJP government from time to time.

Commenting on the new policy of home to homeless families in Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said the government should act in a responsible manner and explain as to who are the homeless families and how they have been categorized. "The aspirations of the people must be taken into consideration before moving ahead on this count," Mir said.

“We believe this policy has made people more restless because they are feeling that the move is another assault on J&K, which should not happen, so government must act in a responsible manner and avoid any further confrontation in J&K,” Mir said, adding, “There will be no compromises on rights, urges and aspirations of people in J&K, who are the victim of BJP’s vindictive policies.”

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while taking note of the “prompt” clarification by the government on the press conference about housing for the poor held by its president Mehbooba Mufti expresses dismay at the lingering lack of transparency in the process.

According to a party spokesperson, the main question of a sharp jump in the numbers of homeless ‘people’ from 1947 to 2021 to nearly two lahks ‘households’ remains unaddressed. PMAY has been in operation for decades in the state under different titles and a procedure has been in place which always was monitored by GoI itself from identification to execution levels.

The assistance would be given generally to the poorest landholders and in the case of people without land, there was a process in place to allot them land out of the community lands like Kahcharai, state land, Khalisa etc.

“The claim that two lakh identified households still remain homeless raises doubts about the sharp increase. Either the exercise is flawed or the intentions are suspect,” he said in a statement.

The spokesman said the latest announcement made at the highest level comes close on the heels of the allotment of tenements to non-local workers in Jammu. "Does any state in the country reciprocate this for thousands of workers, hawkers, and small vendors who move to the plains during winter?"

“It is, therefore, necessary for the government to come out with a detailed clarification on the process of identification of beneficiaries,” the statement added.

PULWAMA — Irrigation Department has asked the encroachers over water bodies in south Kashmir's Pulwama district to remove the illegal structures within a period of seven days, failing which strict action would be taken.

According to a notice, the people who have encroached over the irrigation land in the district have been asked to remove encroachments within seven days.

"If any person fails to remove the encroachment, the department would swing into action and people have to pay the charges of the same,” it said, adding, “Strict action under the law would be taken against the people who fail to remove illegal encroachments within the stipulated time.”

An unnamed official of the Irrigation Department was quoted by the news agency KNO as having said that hundreds of kanals of land are dependent on these water bodies for irrigation purposes besides that dozens of water supply schemes are dependent on them but on both sides of these water bodies, illegal structures have been erected. “Even trees lying there can prove dangerous sometimes,” he added.

"People at some spots have kept their bathroom pipes towards these water bodies which must be stopped as well and people must behave responsibly," the official said, adding that if people fail to demolish the illegal structures and cut down trees, action as per the law will be taken against them.

Under the Water Resources Management Act 2010, encroachers can be booked for one year and a fine of Rs 10,000 can be imposed against them, he said. “Rs 1000 fine per day will be imposed on the encroacher till he/she doesn’t clear the illegally-occupied irrigation land,” the official said.

SRINAGAR — Member of Parliament and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted employment, better business and love but instead they got bulldozer from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party.

In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said the land, which people of Jammu and Kashmir had been working on and toiling hard for many decades, is being snatched from them. He said peace and Kashmiriyat will be protected by unity, not by bulldozers and dividing the people.

“Jammu and Kashmir wanted employment, better business and love, but what did they get? Bulldozer of BJP! The land, which the people there irrigated with hard work for many decades, is being snatched from them. Peace and Kashmiriyat will be protected by uniting, not by dividing and dividing people,” he tweeted.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched an anti-encroachment drive to retrieve 'illegally occupied state' and Kahcharai land.

The move, however, has evoked strong criticism and resentment from local political parties, stating the eviction drive is selective and aimed to snatch land and shelter from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

SRINAGAR — The government on Thursday said that around 5000 kanlas of custodian land have been retrieved across Kashmir in the last two years and that the people whose property is being illegally occupied by the land grabbers should approach the department to take a due course in this regard.

Custodian Evacuee Property Department, Kashmir, Tariq Hussain Naik, while talking to the news agency KNO exclusively, said the department has been putting every effort to identify the custodian land that has been notified years ago.

“We have been working from the last two years to ascertain how much land is notified and how much land is in the records in the Revenue department. Almost 80 per cent of our reconciliation has been completed with the Revenue Department so far,” he said. He also added that so far, the department has been able to retrieve around 5000 kanals of custodian land in different districts across Kashmir.

He added that there is a misconception and to end it, the people should know that the custodian land is only a private property. “We are retrieving the land and the process under Evacuee Act is being followed. If a property is notified once, it will remain so until and unless somebody will not claim the land through proper procedure,” he said.

Stating that the retrieval of custodian land at present is not new, but it is a continuous process; however, he said that nobody will be displaced or disturbed anywhere.

“As per the procedure, if a structure is being raised anywhere illegally on the custodian land, we demolish it, but if a structure is already raised years ago, then we have a provision for that and we will have to notify it following which the rent is being fixed,” he said.

He also said that if the land of any person has been grabbed illegally by anyone, he or she should approach the department and a due course will be taken as per the provision of the Act to restore the property under section 14 of the Evacuee Property Act.

SRINAGAR — Apni Party President Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday said that every officer involved in demolition drives will have to answer once elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We will make them (officers) accountable. They have to answer. Their bossism won’t work then,” Bukari said in response to a question about the ongoing eviction and demolition drive.

He said he supports all and every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir irrespective of their religion, case or colour. “We don’t believe in regionalism and discriminating people on the basis of religion. For me, everyone is equal. It is the administration that divides the people on regional and religious basis as it reaps fruits,” he said, adding that for him, a man losing his hut or a man losing his showroom are equal and he feels their pain.

In response to a question, Bukhari said that it is natural to get sentimental once you lose your home or shop. “Administration should think about it. Officers have their homes also and they should feel the pain when people react to their demotion drive,” he said.

Altaf Bukhari said that all are minnows in Kashmir and there is no big fish. “Administration tries to present minnows as big fish. I ask the administration to stop this drama,” he said, adding that once there will be elections, officers will be questioned from day one.

ANANTNAG — The Anantnag administration on Thursday took possession of a commercial building constructed on the 'State land' in the Srigufwara area of the district, allegedly belonging to a BJP leader.

An official told the news agency KNO that Sofi Yousuf – who is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party – has encroached 25 marlas of 'State land' at Srigufwara, Bijbehera, by raising a commercial building. “The two-storey commercial building comprises 11 shops,” he said.

Today, the concerned officials visited the spot, took possession of the building and handed it over to the Rural Development Department (RDD) Kashmir for public use, the official said.

Meanwhile, Sofi Yousuf claimed he has valid documents for the land. “I can produce them before the concerned authorities,” he said.

SRINAGAR — As the drive against the alleged encroachment of state land is underway in Jammu and Kashmir, people are coming up with mixed reactions on social media networking sites. Though some are supporting the drive while the majority of the people are terming the government moves contrary to the wishes and interests of the common people.

Almost every district of Kashmir has witnessed the demolition drive. In some places, ‘victims’ confronted the Revenue officials, terming their action ‘unjust’. Shopkeepers in Keller and Nagabal areas of south Kashmir’s Shopian district observed a shutdown against the government action while Jammu Kashmir Kisan Tehreek staged a massive protest, asking the government to stop the demolition drive.

The government has already clarified that the drive is only against those people who have encroached on state land.

Netizens, as per the news agency KNT, have been uploading videos and images of different demolition drives from their point of view.

A netizen Komal JB Singh on Twitter, while criticizing the drive, wrote, “What a failed leadership of Jammu and Kashmir! Not even (a) single leader has (the) courage to stand with people against Bulldozer on (the) ground. What a state of helplessness of people.”

Journalist Majid Maqbool wrote that demolition is the new development model. “Bulldozer is paving (the) way to same old "Naya #Kashmir"! People, already besieged and silenced, are encouraged to be… mute spectators!”

Peoples Democratic Party in its February issue of the monthly newsletter ‘Speak UP’ wrote that “BJP’s lotus seems to have been replaced by a bulldozer where Kashmir is concerned, a far cry from the Insaniyat (humanity) and Jamooriyat (democracy) that Kashmiris were promised.”

A lesser-known party namely J-K Awami Awaz claimed that it protested against the bulldozer policy in June last year but nobody supported it. Its Chairman Suhail Khan wrote that the people of Kashmir are suffering due to bulldozer politics.

Indian American Muslim Council in response to a video about the demotion of a house wrote that the use of bulldozers to forcibly dispossess Kashmiris of their homes and lands is a blatant violation of their rights and dignity. “This callous act only adds to the suffering and trauma of a people already grappling with decades-long conflict.”

Senior Journalist Ahmed Ali Fayyaz in one of his multiple tweets about the demolition drive suggested the government to frame a policy instead of using bulldozers.

“All encroachments have happened because of dereliction of duty by government officers. So bulldozers may not be a solution based on justice. Government should come up with a policy. Proven encroachers should be given options: payment of cost at market rate; payment of rent post retrieval etc.”

Jammu and Kashmir High Court has passed an order to the administration “to retrieve state land from all those who have encroached the different type government lands”. This order has recently created a panic situation among common masses in both Jammu and Kashmir, fearing that the administration could take their lands by demolishing the structures constructed on them.

The UT administration has made it clear that all those influential and powerful actors who have misused their power to grab large chunks of state land are under the radar and not the common masses. However, even after the assurance given by the administration, people are protesting against it.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha alongside his cabinet including Chief Secretary Arun Kumar, Sunil Sharma, Ravinder Raina and other party members assured that no action will be taken against those people who are poor and have constructed their homes and residential places out of necessity and have no other place to settle. In addition, he also assured that the administration is actively trying to frame a policy through which the homes and colonies are regularized through proper procedure.

The major concern of people right now is how much land the UT administration will provide to poor people. BJP leader Sunil Sharma, while addressing different media platforms said, “Anyone who has constructed his house on state land ranging from 5-15 marla will be exempted from the land eviction drive currently going on.”

Meanwhile, the protesting bodies claim that the administration shall issue a formal order in black and white, stating that poor people will be given relief in this drive. Many ex-politicians including MPs have also spoken to Lieutenant Governor regarding this issue, and all the people have been given due assurance. Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad met the union home minister and raised the same issue with them.

Given that there are currently hundreds of thousands of people who are living on these state lands, it is important that government must adopt a humanitarian approach while addressing this issue and frame a policy through which poor and common masses are given relief through regularization.

SRINAGAR — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that the use of bulldozers has made Kashmir worse than Afghanistan.

Addressing a news conference in New Delhi, Mehbooba, as per the news agency KNO, said the anti-encroachment drive launched in Jammu & Kashmir is being used as a weapon to suppress the people.

She said they are not against the government's move to retrieve the land from land grabbers, but the livelihood of people should not get affected.

Mehbooba also alleged that the drive is aimed at taking the shelters away from the people and the situation in Kashmir has been turned worse than in Afghanistan.

While responding to a query, she said that the elections cannot be a solution to the Kashmir issue. She said that the government is trying to divert attention from the main issue of Statehood, restoration of Article 370 and other things. "We want a complete solution to the Kashmir issue," she said.

Make bulldozer last resort; give people chance to prove their claim: Omar Abdullah

Stating that the ongoing demolition drive going on across J&K has triggered a wave of frustration and chaos among people, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday advocated that the government should make the bulldozer its last resort, give people a chance to prove their claim and issue proper notices to the people having illegal possession of State land. He was quick to add that the National Conference was not against those who have grabbed State land but “a proper procedure should be followed.”

“In J&K, there is chaos everywhere. Bulldozers are being sent everywhere to demolish houses, complexes and buildings. But nobody knows what is the procedure and on what basis this demolition drive is being conducted,” said Omar while addressing a press conference in Srinagar, as per the news agency KNO.

He said his sister approached the High Court with regard to the proposed demolition of the Gupkar house of Omar and was told by the government before the Court that the list making rounds in the media is “forged.” “Given the government response in the court, I urge the government to make the genuine list of people who have grabbed State land public,” he said.

Omar suggested a slew of measures to the government with regard to the demolition drive. “No government is supposed to bring trouble for the people. Bulldozers should be the last resort. The Government must issue proper notices to those who, according to it, have grabbed State land and given them at least six weeks’ time to prove their claim on land under them and show the documents,” he said.

“In our case, my sister produced the documents before the HC that states that the lease of the Gupkar house is still active and has some years to expire. Likewise, people should be given time to present the documents and let the Revenue team verify the same. If after proper verification land under anybody is found under illegitimate possession, then a bulldozer can be used for sure,” he said.

Omar said that the government should also make a public “genuine list of people who have occupied State land.” “It seems that the ongoing drive is aimed at creating a wedge between communities. This drive lacks proper procedure,” he said.

He said in the case of the demolition of NC leader Ali Muhammad Sagar, he found that no notice was served. “There is a procedure that if the person doesn’t receive the notice, the same is fixed on the front portion of the gate. Nowhere is this being done,” he said, adding, “Officials accompanying bulldozer at Nedous told my relatives that they had pressure from the top and have to do something to show their bosses.”

Omar said in many areas, the ongoing demolition-cum-eviction drive is becoming a “hub of corruption.” “I got many calls from several areas with people saying that they are being told to pay Rs 1 or 1.5 lakh to get their names removed from the list,” he said.

He said that NC MPs will try to raise the issue in the Parliament if they are given time to speak.

To a query that why NC would approach the court on the issue, Omar said that he has suggested some measures to the government and that if the J&K administration fails to give a positive response, they would surely consult lawyers and discuss the future course.

SRINAGAR — The authorities in Srinagar demolished the outer walls of the residence of Peoples Conference leader Sajjad Gani Lone’s sister, Advocate Shabnam Gani Lone in the Kral-Sangri Nishat area of summer capital Srinagar on Saturday, officials said.

An unnamed official, quoted by the Srinagar-based news agency KDC, said that a team of the Revenue Department Srinagar led a demolition drive to reclaim State / Kacharai land under Khasra No. 3557 from the “encroacher” advocate Shabnam Gani Lone.

He said that the demolition in Kral-Sangri at the residence on the outer walls was part of the government’s demolition drive against the “land grabbers”.

Pertinently, the authorities have reiterated that the main target of the drive was to bring down “high-profile land grabbers”.

SRINAGAR — A land of around 1 kanal recorded in the possession of SMC (State land) under Khasra No. 437 Min in Estate Rampora in Tehsil Shalteng in summer capital Srinagar, that was transferred in favour of a private individual through auction notice, was sealed by Srinagar administration on Saturday.

Reports said that the plot is State land and is located at a prime location on Batamaloo-Qamarwari road worth several crores, but the same was allotted at a petty nominal rate through auction notice.

The Revenue Department Srinagar had taken cognizance of the matter and sought details from SMC, but the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has not replied to the verifications and inquiries of the Revenue Department so far.

Presently, a shopping complex was being constructed on the same land with permission from SMC.

On Saturday, acting on the news report carried by Srinagar-based news agency KDC, a team of the Srinagar administration sealed the complex and said the trespasser shall be dealt with seriously under the law as it is the government property.

SRINAGAR — The authorities demolished an outer wall of a former bureaucrat’s house near the Srinagar Airport on Saturday, officials said.

An unnamed official quoted by the Srinagar-based news agency KDC said that a team of the Revenue Department led a demolition drive to reclaim state land of about 10 marlas from the “encroacher”.

He said that the outer wall, the main gate of the former bureaucrat Farooq Renzu Shah’s residence, was demolished in the Friends Enclave, near the airport, as part of the government’s demolition drive against the “land grabbers”.

Officials said that Renzu Shah’s Humhama home was allegedly in his wife’s name identified as Anjum Sultan, daughter of Mohammad Sultan Wadroo.

Farooq Renzu Shah is a former DC Budgam, Director Department of Information, and is presently the Chairman Jamaat-e-Aitqaad International.

Pertinently, the authorities have reiterated that the main target of the drive was to bring down “high-profile land grabbers”.