VC JDA, 4 cops among 18 injured
Police says Ops info was leaked
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 22: Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority and four police officers were among about 18 persons injured and at least a dozen vehicles damaged as violent mob resorted to massive stone pelting on the joint team of police and civil administration when they launched operation to clear encroachment on Government land along river Tawi near 4th bridge during early this morning.
The police lobbed at least three dozen teargas shells and resorted to lathi-charge on the violent mob but amidst heavy stone pelting from all sides, the team led by Vice Chairman JDA, Pawan Rathore, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rashpal Singh, SP South Vinay Sharma and SP North Amritpal Singh had to flee for their lives. The protesting people then blocked road raising barricades and burning tyres. The road remained blocked up to 11.30 am. Senior officers later pacified the people and cleared the road.
Some police officers on duty told the Excelsior that the people outnumbered the houses and the expected family members there on the spot resorting to violence, giving rise to their apprehensions that the information about operation had been already leaked by some ‘insiders’, leaving it to a mere superficial exercise. Since the land in the area is also encroached upon by some influential politicians, it appeared that some people tried to sabotage the entire operation, they maintained.
Sources said that after a joint strategic meeting by the officers from JDA, DC and SSP office Jammu under Divisional Commissioner Jammu on Friday, the officers organized an operation to clear the Government (JDA/ State) land encroached upon by some people along the banks of river Tawi near 4th bridge.
As per J&K High Court directions, the Divisional and District Administration launched the operation, with the assistance of police at around 6 am on Saturday. As the team comprising nearly 150 cops and about two dozen civil officers from JDA and DC office Jammu were approaching towards the site, they came under heavy stone pelting from the people who immediately mounted on their roof top and resorted to stone pelting on the team. The areas which they selected to be cleared today falls between Nikki and Baddi Tawi along the road which approaches towards Phallain Mandaal and along left bank of Nikki Tawi towards, Chatha just closer to 4th bridge.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Rashpal Singh when contacted said that the operation was launched at around 6 am this morning. The teams were moving towards their destination. It was dark at that time. The police teams were also alert to face the expected resistance from the land grabbers.
But it was most shocking and disturbing to note that the stone pelting from all the sides suddenly started, when they had not caused any damage to any structure and they were just moving towards the localities. It appears that the people were well prepared and they had pre-information about the operation.
He said they were complying to the High Court orders over a PIL as last opportunity had been granted by the Court to the authorities. He said many officials and cops were injured in stone pelting. There was possibility of the casualties as well. But it is million dollar question how these people managed all the facilities including power and water supply on the Government land illegally. Some lanes have also been constructed by the agency there.
DIG, Jammu-Samba- Kathua Range, Vivek Gupta when contacted said that on the request of the Deputy Commissioner Jammu and the Vice Chairman JDA, he provided adequate security for the operation and deployed SP North, SP South, three DySPs besides at least four SHOs and other police officers and 150 policemen. He said as per information provided by his officers on duty, he was surprised to note that there was heavy stone pelting before the commencement of operation, which was disturbing factor.
Gupta, who is also holding the charge as SSP Jammu said, the mob was so strong and apparently pre-informed and pre-planned that they made the strong police contingent to retreat. He said the operation was stated at around 6 am and there was no problem in coordination but apparent cause of failure of this operation was leakage of information by ‘some insiders’. He said about a dozen policemen including DySP City, Varun Jandial, SHO Bakshi Nagar – Naresh Sharma and two Sub Inspectors were injured in the operation. About half a dozen JDA officials including VC JDA were also said to be injured. He said about a dozen police/ civil vehicle including Gypsy of SP South, were damaged by the mob.
Another police officer said that two FIRs have been registered in this connection. So far about one and half dozen accused/ stone pelters have been identified and booked. The police will conduct raids to nab them. He said attackers were booked for attempt to murder and causing damage to Govt property and obstructing Govt officers from their duty. He said some VIPs/ politicians have also grabbed Govt land in the area and their men learnt to have sabotaged this operation. The police is on the job to identify the people and register cases against them.
As VC JDA Pawan Rathore could not be contacted despite repeated calls, Director Land Management JDA, DS Katoch said, the land could not be cleared due to heavy stone pelting. He said they were complying to the High Court orders. But sudden stone pelting, stalled their operation.
Katoch said at least half a dozen JDA officials including VC JDA were injured. His vehicle was also damaged. Katoch said total 8 JCBs were involved in the operation. One of them, was extensively damaged and his driver was injured and got several stitches on head. VC JDA managed to escape for his life using Tawi bed route while most of the cops and officials escaped moving through the river bed leaving behind vehicles.
He however, claimed that such operations will go on in near future. Katoch said police had to lob dozens of tear gas shells and also use water cannons to disperse the violent mob. He said that FIRs have been lodged with the police in this connection.
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