Dozens of families in Jammu’s Sidhra area were reportedly rendered homeless overnight following demolition drives, with residents alleging that the action was carried out without prior notice and that the Supreme Court’s directives on due process were disregarded. The demolitions, which occurred early on May 19, have ignited a political firestorm and raised questions about the adherence to the rule of law in the Union Territory.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that residents, including women, children, and the elderly, were allegedly forced to leave their homes with minimal time to salvage belongings. Eyewitness accounts describe authorities arriving around 4:00 AM with police and forest officials, commencing demolition activities amidst early morning prayers. Families report the loss of decades of accumulated possessions and memories, with many struggling to find shelter amidst the scorching summer heat, which has seen temperatures in Jammu exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Mohammed Sharief Khatana, a resident of the Bandhi area of Sidhra, recounted the harrowing experience of his family, who have resided there for generations. He stated that the authorities did not permit residents to retrieve essential items, leaving his children vulnerable to the extreme heat and questioning the rationale behind the destruction of their homes. The plight of school-going children losing textbooks and uniforms has become a particularly poignant aspect of the ordeal.
A video circulating on social media purportedly showed a young girl crying as her house was demolished, questioning where she and her family were supposed to go. Similar accounts emerged from other residents, including Inayat Ali, who has lived in the area for over six decades. He expressed bewilderment at the demolition of his family home, along with approximately 30 other structures, without any advance notification. Residents stated they repeatedly sought clarification from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) present at the scene, who allegedly assured them notice would be provided while the demolition proceeded.
Ms. Shama, a former corporator of Ward 71 Sidhra, who has been providing aid to affected families, corroborated the accounts of the early morning action. She described a woman reportedly being asked to vacate her home immediately after completing her prayers, with initial resistance to her taking even her infant daughter. She highlighted that an advance notice of even a few hours could have allowed families to save their personal effects.
The demolition drive has drawn sharp criticism for allegedly flouting established legal procedures. Legal experts and activists point to a Supreme Court ruling from November 13, 2024, which cautioned against executive actions that bypass due process. The apex court had emphasized that demolitions should not occur without a show cause notice, sent via registered post and pasted on the property, with a minimum of 15 days allowed for a response before any action is taken. Advocates have alleged that these directives were ignored in the Sidhra demolitions, with one stating that the authorities in the Union Territory were “throwing the law of land into the wind.”
Advocate Aditya Gupta, President of Youth JKPDP, underscored the human cost of such actions, noting that even minor possessions hold immense value for economically disadvantaged individuals and that such demolitions inflict permanent trauma, particularly on children. He argued that a 15-day notice period would have allowed residents to present documentation or make arrangements to vacate.
The matter has escalated into a significant political debate. Forest Minister Javed Rana of the ruling party publicly expressed shock and outrage, attributing the action to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and stating that elected officials were not consulted. This statement drew a critical response from PDP leader Iltija Mufti, who questioned the minister’s own authority within the forest department. A legislator from Budhal defended Minister Rana, citing a dual power structure in Jammu and Kashmir where bureaucratic authority often supersedes that of elected ministers.
Meanwhile, BJP senior leader Ravinder Raina asserted that his party focuses on building homes, not demolishing them, and suggested the ruling party was attempting to evade responsibility. Zahid Parwaz Choudhary, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference, alleged selective targeting of the Gujjar Bakerwal community and confirmed the absence of the mandated 14-day notice. He also raised concerns about the lack of basic facilities like washrooms for women in the aftermath of the demolitions.
Official government figures revealed that over 17 lakh kanals of state land are under encroachment in the Union Territory, with Jammu division accounting for over 14 lakh kanals. Demolition drives have reportedly been conducted in various areas, including Sidhra, Ring Road, Indira Nagar, and Nagrota, as part of reclamation efforts. However, for the affected families in Sidhra, these statistics offer little solace amidst their present predicament.
In response to the outcry, Minister Javed Rana has ordered a probe into the demolitions, terming the forest department’s actions as “inhuman, anti-people and against law.” He has also urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to investigate alleged excesses by police personnel during the operation. The minister has contested the forest department’s claim regarding the land being solely forest property, citing decades-long habitation by tribal families reflected in revenue records. The forest department and police, however, maintained that encroachments were removed and 60 kanals of forest land reclaimed.
In Kashmir, the political reaction to the Sidhra demolitions has been more uniform across party lines, with some leaders terming the ordered probe an “eyewash.” Concerns have been raised about potential violations of the Forest Rights Act, with calls for a more thorough investigation into the claims of the affected communities.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
