Srinagar, May 29 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) State executive member Feroz Wani has strongly condemned the ruthless burning down of Gujar Kothas and hutments in Chapran village of Bandipora district in the guise of so called anti encroachment drive.
In a statement issued to KNS, Feroz Wani said that though illegal encroachment on government land can not be encouraged at all but the brute and barbaric way adopted to burn down hutments in Chapran village was a most undesirable and condemnable act. He has also demanded for effective implementation of Forest Rights Act in the state."
"The authorities should restore grazing rights of the nomadic population before targetting them selectively and blindly," Feroz Wani demanded adding that tribal community in Jammu and Kashmir was already in the grip of fear and insecurity and the latest incident of torching their temporary structures in Chapran village has added to their worries and send shock waves in the entire nomadic community afresh.
He said there can be some willful attempts of encroachment on government land by the unscrupulous elements, still burning down of hutments and use of brute force was no way to tackle the problem.
JKPM leader has said that the nomads in Chapran village are being hounded for no fault of theirs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe said these people have been reportedly using these temporary wooden structures since decades during their biannual migration, the fact which the authorities should verify first before blindly going for their selective targetting.
He said it is being alleged that structures of only those tribal men were torched which were existing there since decades whereas fresh encroachments were not even remotely touched.
He said, in addition to the old structures, a large number of fruit bearing Walnut trees were also torched during the operation.
Feroz demanded a thorough probe into all these allegations of favouritism adding that by torching the hutments, the authorities have brazenly usurped therights of poor tribals of the area and snached their livelihood.
Meanwhile, JKPM leader Iqbal Rather has urged the Governor to provide ex gracia relief to the victims and rehabilitate them adequately.
He said they have no other source of livelihood except grazing of cattle and authorities should think thrice before evicting them from their grazing land.
He said their eviction from the grazing land would give rise to a worst kind of law and order situation in the entire state. (KNS)