Srinagar: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has occupied 737 premises in Jammu and Kashmir including homes of Kashmiri Pandits, temples, cinema halls, hospitals and hotels, New18 reported.
Quoting CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh, the report said that the armed forces personnel will vacate premises owned by Kashmiri Pandits if the families ask them to.
“We will vacate houses of Kashmiri Pandits which are currently occupied by CRPF if any family or families ask us to. The government will definitely provide us some other location for jawans,” the report quoted Singh as saying.
As per the data quoted in the report, the armed forces personnel have occupied the following properties in J&K: one school, one hospital, two cinema halls, eight orchards, 26 industrial units and factories, 30 hotels, 71 agricultural lands, 265 other private buildings – which includes the homes of Kashmiri Pandits — and 333 other government buildings.
The report quoting sources said, CRPF has occupied these premises for professional duties as there is a shortage of accommodation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources told News18.com that the local government pays rent for all premises and the CRPF is just residing there as per the direction of the state government.
“Just like every state government, whenever there is a deployment, the CRPF asks local police to provide accommodation and premises for jawans. In J&K, the government has provided these spaces and they pay rent for it,” a senior CRPF official, who has served in JK, has been quoted as saying.
The official said, “We have not illegally occupied these premises as it has been given by the state government. These premises get a good amount as rent from the state government on the basis of a certificate. Recently, land has been given to the CRPF to build infrastructure.”
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