Jammu: The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has demolished a dozen shops belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits on its land in Jammu city, sparking protests from various sections that demanded action against the officials.
The demolition drive was launched on Wednesday to remove shops built by displaced Kashmiri Pandits on JDA’s land near the Muthi camp three decades ago, officials said.
The old shops were located on land belonging to the JDA, which had given a deadline to the Kashmiri Pandits to remove their shops on their own within three months, failing which encroachments would be removed, the officials said.
The officials said the Kashmiri Pandits had given consent to shift from the area themselves.
Relief Commissioner Arvind Karwani visited the area to assess the situation and assured the affected families that new shops would be constructed for them in the area.
“These shops were on JDA land. The relief organisation has floated tenders for constructing a shopping complex in Muthi Camp Phase II.”
“Ten shops will be constructed soon and allotted to these shopkeepers,” he said.
Political parties, including the BJP, PDP and Apni Party, and several Kashmir Pandit organisations condemned the JDA’s action. They called for the construction of new shops for the displaced community to help them sustain their livelihood.
Pointing to his demolished shop, its owner Kuldeep Kisroo said, “Instead of helping us survive by providing better facilities and financial support, this government has snatched our bread and butter by bulldozing our shops.”
Jav Lal Bhat, another shopkeeper who set up his shop in a tin shed in 1991, said, “How can we feed our families when we are solely dependent on the earnings from these shops? We urge the Lieutenant Governor and the chief minister to intervene and give us justice.”
Another shopkeeper, Jawahir Lal, described the demolition as “sheer hooliganism”. He said, “No notices were served to us for the demolition.”
President of the Muthi migrant camp Anil Bhan criticised the timing of the demolition.
“It should have waited for another month as the relief department is already constructing shops for them within the camp. This unfortunate incident could have been avoided,” he said.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti shared a clip on X of the affected shopkeepers and urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue with compassion and urgency.
“Heartbreaking scenes emerge as Kashmiri Pandit shopkeepers stand helplessly by the rubble of their demolished shops, reportedly brought down by the JDA without prior notice. This act further deepens their sense of alienation and loss,” she said on X.
BJP spokesperson G L Raina, who visited the site and met the affected families, said, “This visibly seems to be a revenge action soon after the return of the NC-Congress government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The JDA should have provided alternatives to these families.
“The government must stop targeting this hapless community,” he said.
Apni Party general secretary and former legislator Vijay Bakaya expressed dismay and questioned the intentions of the JDA.
“Many shops being run by Kashmiri Pandit migrants in Muthi for nearly 30 years have been demolished. If these shops had to be removed for any legitimate reason, notice should have been given and alternative locations provided.
“This high-handed action by the authorities is most condemnable,” he said.
Mehbooba Mufti slams JDA’s demolition drive of Kashmiri Pandit shops in Jammu
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday condemned the demolition of shops owned by Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), describing the action as “grave injustice”.
PDP president urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to step in and address the concern with “compassion and urgency”.
“This comes as yet another blow to a community that has endured unimaginable hardships for decades,” she wrote on X.
As per a video clip shared by the Mufti on X, the affected shopkeepers lamented their losses, saying that these shops were their sole source of livelihood. “We were not given any prior notice or chance to present our case. This is not just an attack on our property but on our dignity,” said one of the shop owners, fighting back tears.
The PDP chief wrote, “Heartbreaking scenes emerge as Kashmiri Pandit shopkeepers stand helplessly by the rubble of their demolished shops, reportedly brought down by the JDA without prior notice.”
She said the “targeted demolition” of assets of the tribal community has now been extended to Kashmiri Pandits, which has further deepened their sense of alienation and loss.
The demolitions carried out by the JDA have sparked outrage from various sections of society, with political leaders and activists questioning the fairness and transparency of the agency’s actions.
As per the reports, the demolition drive was launched on Wednesday, November 20. The affected shopkeepers said that instead of helping them with better facilities and financial support, the government “snatched” their bread and butter by bulldozing their shops.
THIS IS WHAT JDA SAYS…
In a major step towards providing housing for the economically weaker sections (EWS), the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) carried out a demolition drive on November 20, 2024, at Lower Roop Nagar, Jammu.
The operation aimed to clear 25 kanals of land earmarked for the construction of 208 one-bedroom flats designed to benefit the EWS.
The JDA clarified that the land was under illegal possession, with unauthorized structures including 12 dome quarters and 22 kiosks. Some of these structures were reportedly abandoned, while others were rented out by encroachers to laborers and locals, exploiting the situation for financial gain. This included individuals who had previously been rehabilitated at locations such as Purkhoo, Muthi, and Jagti but continued to occupy the land illegally.
To address the encroachment, the JDA followed due legal procedures under Section 4 of the J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988. Notices were served as early as January 20, 2024, and the shopkeepers were informed about the EWS housing project planned for the site. The JDA granted multiple extensions, including a one-month grace period requested by the shopkeepers, allowing them time to vacate and relocate their belongings. Several occupants voluntarily left the premises, with some submitting affidavits pledging to vacate by February 5, 2024.
Despite giving occupants over 10 months to comply, some encroachments remained. On November 20, 2024, the JDA initiated the demolition drive, facilitating the safe removal of belongings from the remaining five to six shops. Most structures were vacant or abandoned at the time of the operation.
The JDA emphasized that the action was not targeted at any particular community or caste and was carried out impartially. Encroachments included individuals from various backgrounds, including non-domicile laborers who had been accommodated in the illegal structures.
This demolition drive is part of JDA’s broader mission to reclaim government land and ensure its use for public welfare. The cleared site at Lower Roop Nagar will now be used to construct 208 EWS flats featuring one bedroom, a hall, a kitchen, and a bathroom.
The JDA reaffirmed its commitment to continuing such drives in the future to reclaim encroached land for infrastructure development and public benefit.
