news details |
|
|
| 'Self-styled' KP leaders authorize civilian to cut trees of cremation ground | | ADC gives green signal without ascertaining facts | |  Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Dec 2: After encroaching upon the land and other property of Kashmiri Pandits, land mafia in connivance with some of the 'self-styled' leaders of Kashmiri Pandits putting up at Jammu is trying to grab the property that no Trust or organization can sell since it is the joint property of Kashmiri Pandits.
Some of the members of Shamshan Bhumi Trust, Bungam-Khonmoh have prepared a document according to which one Mohammad Akbar Bhat, resident of Bungam-Khonmoh has been given the rights to cut the trees of cremation ground (Shamshan Bhumi) and then sell the wood of the trees at whatever rate he may deem fit.
"The cremation ground belongs to Kashmiri Pandit community and nobody has any right to either sell the property or authorizes anybody to sell the trees and its wood. But some people have managed to create a Trust and they have sold the trees over the plot of land being used as a cremation ground," said the sources while sharing details with Early Times.
The sources said that plot of land consisting of around 15 kanals has numerous trees of Kikar and they are being cut for the past two weeks by labourers engaged by the person who has managed to buy the trees. They said although the cutting of trees was stopped for few days but the same was re-started after clearance by authorities.
"Mohammad Akbar says that he has paid Rs. 5, 10,000 for the trees and he produces the document issued in his favour by the office bearers of Shamshan Bhumi Trust. Action should have been taken against the office bearers of Shamshan Bhumi Trust and the concerned holder but nothing of that sort has happened so far," said sources. Sources further said that following a complaint a team of administrative officials reached the spot and stopped the cutting of trees. They said following this a letter was shot by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar on behalf of Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar asking the Tehsildar to release the seized tools along with the wood after examining the case.
"One fails to understand the urgency shown by Additional Deputy Commissioner in this case. The seized tools along with the wood could have been released only when the picture would have become clear. The holder took the letter issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner as the final authority and following this the cutting of trees inside the cremation ground was resumed," said sources.
Sources said that wood cutters have so far cut scores of Kikar trees and caused massive damage as well as deforestation at the site. They said that the wood of the trees would give revenue of many times to the price paid by Mohammad Akbar for the property. The sources said that 80 percent of wood has already been dumped by land holder with the remaining there at the property site.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Temple Caring Committee (KTCC) has expressed serious concern over the authority given to Mohammad Akbar for cutting the trees and then selling the same. The Committee has also questioned the role of administrative officials in this act saying that this amount to negligence of duties.
"There are some fake Trusts who are selling the property which does not belong to them. This has bruised the sentiments of overall community and it would be difficult to heal them. How the Additional Deputy Commissioner issued orders for release of seized tools/wood without ascertaining the facts," said Bharat Raina, President KTCC.
Bharat said that some of the members of land mafia along with the National Conference and few administrative officials are hell bent on encroaching upon the land and property of Kashmiri Pandits. He demanded thorough probe in the matter saying that action should be taken against members of Shamshan Bhumi Trust and the holder. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
