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| JDA anti encroachment drive turns ugly, people clash with police | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 31: Jammu Police and locals today clashed over a demolition drive launched by the Jammu Development Authority in Sidhra area on city outskirts. Protests broke out this afternoon near Sidhra Golf Course area when locals alleged that the JDA officials started the demolition drive without issuing any notices to them.
Tension gripped outskirts of Jammu on Thursday following massive anti-encroachment drive carried out by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in Sidhra area.
People of the Sidhra area, had clashes with the JDA officials and got engaged police in doing dong battle till late evening. Protestors protesting against the demolition of their houses by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) officials came on roads and blocked the National Highway 1A.
The protestors amid anti-government slogans pelted stones at the police personnel and JDA officials, who had gone to get vacated about 3000 kanals of encroached land situated along the banks of River Tawi.
According to eyewitnesses, after intervention by the team, people pacified and the demolition drive was suspended. However, they said protests in the area still continue. "The land belonged to the JDA and was allegedly encroached by locals," an official told adding that they had constructed concrete structures and thatched houses on the land.
According to eyewitnesses many houses and other establishments were today demolished by the authority after launching a drive against "illegal structures". They said around 20 structures were being demolished by the JDA out of which many have been dismantled. While JDA claimed its right over the 'land in news' on the contrary the locals alleged the authorities of demolishing legal structures which had been constructed 20 years back after getting due permission.
Babu Ram, Director JDA told media persons before carrying out the anti encroachment drive the local residents failed to adhere to the warnings.He said the illegal occupants had created such a situation and we have to remove the encroachments to free the JDA land.Babu Ram claimed that the action was warranted as per the law. However, following protests and stone pelting by the protesters, police resorted to lathi-charge and fired smoke shells to disperse them. Condemning the police action, the protesters alleged that no notification regarding vacating the houses was issued in advance.Meanwhile keeping the volatile nature of the situation, the additional police personnel were deployed on the spot to diffuse the tense situation. |
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