Bulldozers were run on the shops of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Jammu Development Authority (JDA) demolished a dozen shops of Kashmiri Pandits located near Muthi Camp in Jammu city. These shops were built by displaced Kashmiri Pandits about three decades ago. People say that the shops were demolished without notice. We are back in the 90s. People have been protesting for the last three days. They are demanding action against JDA officials. JDA says that the shops were built on their land. Commissioner Arvind Karwani visited the spot and assured the affected families that new shops would be built for them. He said that JDA has issued a tender to build a shopping complex in Muthi Camp Phase-2. Soon shops will be built and given to the affected. When I came here, I was young. Now I have become old. What will I do?”
Shop owner Ashok Raina said, “The shop was demolished within half an hour without any prior information or notice. We were told that we will be rehabilitated but no government official came to see our plight. We were on the road and it felt like we were back in the 90s. He said that my shop was here for 30 years. The day the camp was built, I opened my shop. The then commissioner also supported us. My house was run by the shop. My children have studied with that money. But now I have no income. Ashok says, when I came here, I was young. Now I have become old. What will I do? Soon ten shops will be given to shopkeepers. Migrant Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani said, the shops were built on JDA land. JDA demolished them. We do not have much information because JDA is a separate agency. He said that we have already issued a tender for Muthi Phase-2 Migrant Camp. Soon ten shops will be built and allotted to these shopkeepers. Shops will be given to all eligible people, including priority to those who have shops since the 1990s. We have been fighting for this for the last 3 years
Muthi Migrant Camp President Anil Bhan said, we have been fighting for this for the last 3 years. There was a ban on this. JDA was forbidden from demolishing old shops until new shops were built. Construction of EWS colony has been approved here, but work will start after 6 months. The Relief Commission has promised that new shops will be built, but no official from the state government came here. …………………………………. Also read this news related to Jammu and Kashmir… 2 terrorists killed in Sopore encounter: Many weapons and ammunition recovered; 3 local LeT terrorists involved in Srinagar grenade attack also arrested Security forces killed 2 terrorists on 9 November in Sopore of Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. The army had conducted a search operation in Sagipora and Panipora. The encounter was going on in these areas of Sopore since Thursday night. There was news of 2-3 terrorists hiding here. Kashmir IGP VK Birdi said that 2 terrorists were killed in this operation. Read full news…
