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| Gujjars, border inhabitants find supporters in Assembly | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 28: The lifestyle and livelihood of the Gujjars and other people residing near border areas today came in for serious concern in the legislative assembly as members cutting across the party lines expressed their dismay over the restrictions allegedly imposed by the security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Boder (IB).
The Members from Treasury and Opposition benches alleged that thousands of kanals of land remained idle as farmers were not being allowed to cultivate by the security forces while others said Gujjars were being stopped from going to dhokas.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, replying to a question by Mr Ajaz Ahmad Jan of National Conference (NC) said there were no restrictions on the movement of Gujjars and Bakerwals to their dhokas in any part of the state except in Kargil district where they were not allowed to go towards the LoC by the Army for security reasons.
Mr Sagar said there had been some complaints about restrictions imposed by the Army on movement of Gujjars and Bakerwals towards their dhokas and sheds in Bandipora district. However, the Army authorities have been advised to allow these nomads to move freely after proper security checks.
However, Mr Jan was not satisified with the answer and said till 2006 Gujjars and Bakerwals were being allowed to move towards their dhokhas. But, he said, from 2007 onwards security forces did not allow them to move in hilly areas.
The security forces had constructed one fencing about 15 km from the border and another near the zero line, he said, adding the nomads were not being allowed to cross the first fencing also with the result that thousands of Gujjars and Bakerwals were suffering.
Independent Member Ashwani Kumar Sharma also alleged that farmers of Bisnah and R S Pora were not being allowed to cultivate in their own land near the border.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed in these areas were harassing the farmers, he alleged and demanded that peasants should be allowed to cultivate in their own land freely.
Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also alleged that three panchayat halqas spread over seven to eight km of land of Kalakote are within the fencing erected by the security forces.
He said thousands of people living within the fencing are facing problems when they had to move out or return to their villages.
Thousands of kanals of land remained idle because of security restrictions.
Mr Sagar assured the Members that he will direct the Divisional Commissioner concerned and Deputy Commissioners to take up the issue with the security force authorities so that there is free movement in these areas.
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