Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 30: Senior National Conference leader and former MLA Kangan, Mian Altaf Ahmed has strongly condemned the Government action against nomadic tribal community in Bandipora .
In a press statement the Gujjar leader strongly condemned the burning down of Gujar Kothas and hutments in Chapran village of Bandipora district in the guise of so called anti- encroachment drive.
“The tribal community in Jammu and Kashmir was already in the grip of fear and insecurity due to the many such incidents in Jammu and the latest incident of torching their temporary structures in Chapran village has added to their worries and send shock waves in the entire nomadic community afresh” he said.
Altaf said that these nomadic families over decades during their annual migration to the hilly areas stay in several places near grasslands where they have grazed their cattle for centuries , adding that the fact which the authorities should verify first before blindly going for their selective targeting. He said they have no other source of livelihood except grazing of cattle and authorities should think twice before evicting them.
He urged the Governor’s administration to probe into the incident. He also sought resettlement of the affected families.