Case sub-judice, no notice served: Locals
Jammu: The inhabitants of Sunjwan and Bhatindi areas of Jammu city on Friday morning held a protest demonstration against the authorities after an anti-encroachment drive was started in the wee morning hours.
Witnesses told the news agency KNO that the drive was objected by locals who resorted to stone pelting, damaging a police bus and other machines.
They said the protesters raised slogans against the municipal authorities and other concerned government departments.
Locals said that amid darkness, authorities pressed into service it’s men and machinery to demolish structures in the area without serving any notice.
“The area is being targeted time and again despite the fact that a number of other localities in Jammu are also having structures on state land,” locals alleged.
They said that the case is sub-judice and authorities should have served notice to the residents to demolish structures in the area.
The protesters alleged that being a Muslim dominant area, the authorities are deliberately targeting them.
Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Sunjwan, said that those who have captured land in canals are free and those who are living on 2 or 3 marlas since 70 years are being targeted.
“If authorities talk about forest land, then GMC, High Court, and other important establishments besides dozens of areas are also lying on the same land, on which we are living, then they must be demolished first,” he said. “Such acts will have a bad impact on society and will create law and order problems.”
Locals said that even some leaders have their establishments on the same land but they aren’t being “targeted”.
“The slogans of a PM that everyone will get the house in India is also being proving hallow on the ground as poor people are being targeted in Jammu,” they said while requesting authorities to stop the demolition.
However, officials said that driver of the JCB was injured during the incident besides that machinery was also damaged.
Despite repeated attempts, Commissioner JMC couldn’t be contacted.
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