Srinagar: The Jammu Muslim Front (JMF), in a statement has strongly condemned the recent anti-encroachment drive calling it a ‘drive against Muslim community’ in Nikki Tawi area of Jammu.
The JMF said a delegation led by Qazi Imran visited the affected persons and appealed to the state government to stop the ‘selective eviction’.
He demanded a rehabilitation policy and regularisation of such colonies which have been existing for decades.
“The front leaders have appealed to the Governor Satya Pal Malik to issue orders to concerned authorities to stop harassment of Muslims in Jammu region,” the statement said.
On December 22, Jammu Municipal Corporation held a demolition drive in Beli Charana area located near Tawi.
However, the drive turned violent when locals, mostly Muslim Gujjars opposed the drive, saying JDA was targeting a particular community.
In the incident, two dozen people were injured including the vice chairman of JDA, a police officer and a local journalist.
The Gujjar community claimed that the structures raised adjacent to fourth bridge at Nikki Tawi area were not illegal and that the locals have been issued electricity and water connections by the authorities.
Awami Ittehad Party chief Engineer Rashid while reacting to the incident had said that the drive was an attempt to “bulldoze” colonies of Muslim dominated areas in Jammu region.
In a statement, Rasheed said that the way early in the morning authorities raided Beli Chadana locality and tried to demolish the houses of inhabitants is condemnable and Government should never be selective and communal in its approach.
“There is no justification for “shelling and Lathicharge” on innocent inhabitants. One should not forget that their ancestors have been either “massacred” in 1947 or have forced to flee to Pakistan, leaving their huge properties here, which were later occupied by people of other communities.”
