Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Apr 18: In a major operation today, the Sub Divisional Administration removed encroachment on over 142 kanals of Govt land and also razed five structures to the ground at Gohlad near Mendhar in district Poonch.
Official sources said that on the High Court directives, the District Administration Poonch organised a major operation today under the supervision of SDM Mendhar, Th Sher Singh and SDPO Shahid Nahim and cleared huge Government land grabbed by nearly 16 families. It was old encroachment and the land grabbers had even taken away nearly 16 Kanals of land belonging to local Govt Middle School.
The team led by SDM, SDPO, Tehsildar and SHO Mendhar organised large operation involving nearly 100 jawans of police and paramilitary forces. With the help of JCB, the operation was launched at around 9.30 AM.
The land grabbers along with their supporters showed tough resistance and also resorted to stone pelting on policemen and officials but with the deployment of heavy force they could not disrupt the operation for long. At least five structures including a pucca, located in Khasra No. 522 were demolished. The school land measuring 16 kanals was also cleared.
The people then came out on the road at main chowk Mendhar and started protest. They also blocked Mendhar – Jammu road for about two hours. But the police used mild lathicharge and cleared the road. In stoning and police action at least five persons including two cops were injured. The locals of the area have lauded the action of Administration.
The SDM said that there is total 246 kanal area to be cleared and this operation will be continued in near future. Some more structures will be razed as per directions of the High Court, he added.
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