Image credit: PTI SRINAGAR: Nomadic Gujjars and Backerwals, whose houses have been demolished by the administration, have filed a complaint with the police, alleging that “demolition of their tribal habitations” are in violation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Forest Rights Act, 2006.They have sought action against the officials who razed around 30 habitations in Raika Bandi and Mahamaya forest belt in Jammu on Tuesday.According to the Shama Akhtar, councillor of the area, the demolished structures were protected under the law and no prior notice, eviction order, rehabilitation plan or opportunity of hearing was provided to them before the demolition drive. “We have submitted the complaint with police and the deputy commissioner. We expect quick action,” Akhtar said.On Wednesday, the Omar Abdullah govt constituted a two-member committee to investigate the demolitions. According to an order issued by the tribal affairs department, the panel has been to submit its report within seven days.The demolition, which led to widespread criticism and protests, has once again put the National Conference govt in the state at loggerheads with the LG administration. J&K’s forest and tribal affairs minister Javed Ahmad Rana, who visited the area after the drive, said he was “deeply shocked and outraged by the clandestine unilateral demolition of homes”.Mian Altaf Ahmad, NC MP from Rajouri Poonch and South Kashmir regions, said, “this high-handedness by the administration and forest department is unacceptable.”PDP leader Iltija Mufti, who visited the area, said “bulldozer model is being implemented in J&K now.” “What’s deeply worrying and appalling is that unlike UP & West Bengal, the government normalising and facilitating these patently illegal demolition drives is a non-BJP NC government,” she alleged.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 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 govt land.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Free Mein Milega’: Iran Tells Marco Rubio To Take ‘Sabhyata Ka Crash Course’ In IndiaNDA Faces Seat Shift In Rajya Sabha Polls While Vijay’s TVK Gains Major OpportunityRaghav Chadha Appointed Chairman Of Petitions Committee In Rajya Sabha Weeks After Joining BJPVinesh Phogat Gets Relief From Delhi HC Ahead Of Asian Games 2026 Selection Trials’Whole-Of-Nation Approach’: CDS Chauhan Says Future Wars Will Span Cyber, Cognitive DomainsMarco Rubio Meets PM Modi In India As Both Nations Deepen Strategic And Technology TiesTwisha Sharma Case: Family Alleges Samarth Singh Received VIP Treatment Inside Court Premises‘In The Near Future’: Marco Rubio Invites PM Modi To White House ‘On Behalf Of Trump’‘Cannot Be Changed Verbally’: TMC’s Kunal Ghosh Questions Bengal Govt’s Direct Deportation MoveMost-Wanted Terrorists Gather At Funeral Of Al Badr Commander Hamza Burhan In Islamabad, Pakistan123PhotostoriesBenefits of Hanging a Horseshoe at Home Entrance5 morning drinks that actually help with bloating and gas (without tasting like medicine)Zayn Malik-Gigi Hadid to Ben Affleck-Jennifer Garner: Hollywood stars co-parenting children after divorceYour teen daughter is probably going through these 4 struggles: How you can help as a parentOptical illusion personality test: Women, river, bridge or boat? What you see first could reveal one of your worst traitsSecrets of Kedarnath Temple: 10 fascinating facts every traveller should knowOne dreamy yellow saree and Madhuri Dixit reminding everyone why she is iconic7 signs your mind feels cluttered because your space is too stimulatingLove quote of the day by Marilyn Monroe: “The real lover is a man who…”Delivery agents most exposed to heatwaves: 9 foods and drinks to offer delivery agents in summer123Hot PicksBandra demolition driveIPL Schedule 2026Vinesh PhogatUP HeatwaveHardoi fireNID DAT counselling 2026TN Ministers ListTop TrendingTwisha SharmaVaibhav SooryavanshiNFL Draft RumorFaridabad Volleyball Player MurderNew Green Card RuleJEE Advanced Response SheetIPL Orange Cap 2026Megan Thee StallionRico verhoevenWest Bengal Annapurna Yojana
SRINAGAR: Nomadic Gujjars and Backerwals, whose houses have been demolished by the administration, have filed a complaint with the police, alleging that “demolition of their tribal habitations” are in violation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Forest Rights Act, 2006.They have sought action against the officials who razed around 30 habitations in Raika Bandi and Mahamaya forest belt in Jammu on Tuesday.According to the Shama Akhtar, councillor of the area, the demolished structures were protected under the law and no prior notice, eviction order, rehabilitation plan or opportunity of hearing was provided to them before the demolition drive. “We have submitted the complaint with police and the deputy commissioner. We expect quick action,” Akhtar said.On Wednesday, the Omar Abdullah govt constituted a two-member committee to investigate the demolitions. According to an order issued by the tribal affairs department, the panel has been to submit its report within seven days.The demolition, which led to widespread criticism and protests, has once again put the National Conference govt in the state at loggerheads with the LG administration. J&K’s forest and tribal affairs minister Javed Ahmad Rana, who visited the area after the drive, said he was “deeply shocked and outraged by the clandestine unilateral demolition of homes”.Mian Altaf Ahmad, NC MP from Rajouri Poonch and South Kashmir regions, said, “this high-handedness by the administration and forest department is unacceptable.”PDP leader Iltija Mufti, who visited the area, said “bulldozer model is being implemented in J&K now.” “What’s deeply worrying and appalling is that unlike UP & West Bengal, the government normalising and facilitating these patently illegal demolition drives is a non-BJP NC government,” she alleged.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 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 govt land.
