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Anti-encroachment drive sparks protest in Jammu
Jammu district administration on Sunday conducted anti-encroachment drives at two locations. However, at Bhatindi Chowk, opposite Wave Mall on Jammu-Srinagar highway, people staged a protest
Acting tough against encroachers of the state land that included two former ministers, the Jammu district administration on Sunday conducted anti-encroachment drives at two locations. However, at Bhatindi Chowk, opposite Wave Mall on Jammu-Srinagar highway, people staged a protest. They also burnt tyres and blocked the highway for nearly three hours. They demanded that the anti-encroachment drive be stopped immediately.
They claimed that they had the ownership documents of the land and that “they were not served any notices by the revenue authorities beforehand”.
Following commotion and chaos, additional district commissioner Satish Kumar assured that a committee comprising officials of the district administration and locals will be constituted to look into their claims.
“The district administration on Sunday carried out anti-encroachment drive at two locations-- Tawi river bed area. The land had been illegally occupied by a former minister of the Congress,” said officials.
“The second location was opposite Wave Mall on Jammu-Srinagar national highway,” said the officials.
“The encroachers opposite Wave Mall were a construction company, another former minister of the Congress, an automobile showroom and a lambardar,” they added.
The former minister when contacted plainly refused that he had encroached upon any state land and that he owned the house, which was demolished by the administration at Karnala Chak. The second ex-minister of the Congress had switched off his mobile and hence could not be reached for his comments.
During the anti-encroachment drives, a battery of officers and a strong posse jawans of Jammu and Kashmir Police were present at the site.
