Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 11: On the directions of the High Court, Jammu Development Authority with the assistance of Revenue Department and Jammu Municipal Corporation today began anti-encroachment drive in Gole Gujral area amidst resistance from the encroachers, who resorted to heavy stone pelting leading to injuries to seven persons. Around 40% structures on the encroached land were razed during the drive.
Reports said that with prior information to the Deputy Commissioner Jammu and Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, Khilafwarzi teams of the Jammu Development Authority led by Vice-Chairperson along with machinery reached Gole Gujral area early this morning and tried to start anti-encroachment drive with the assistance of Revenue and Jammu Municipal Corporation teams.
However, the anti-encroachment operation could not pick up the required momentum till late in the afternoon because of the resistance from the encroachers and lack of fool proof plan from the police personnel. Though attempts were made to convince the encroachers to voluntarily leave the land but to of no avail.
In the meanwhile, a former Corporator, who was the sympathizer of the encroachers, reached the area and instigated the encroachers for stone pelting on the police and CRPF personnel, who were deployed to ensure smooth anti-encroachment drive.
In the stone pelting from the encroachers, seven persons sustained injuries and they were immediately rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Their condition was stated to be stable when reports last came in.
Sensing that without use of force the anti-encroachment drive would not yield fruitful results, JDA Vice-Chairperson, Sushma Chouhan and Regional Director, Land Records and Surveys, R K Shavan directed the Khilafwarzi teams to press machinery into service for removal of encroachments. Even Magistrates were deployed for issuing necessary orders to the police and CRPF personnel in case of further resistance from the encroachers.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Shakeel Beg, also reached the spot on getting information about the resistance from the encroachers, to ensure proper police protection to the teams of JDA and Revenue Department. He along with JDA Vice-Chairperson and Regional Director Land Records and Surveys were camping in the area till late night.
According to R K Shavan, Regional Director Land Records and Surveys, around 40% structures on the encroached land were razed during the operation, which continued when reports last came in. He said that lighting arrangements were also made so as to continue anti-encroachment drive even during the night hours.
In response to a question, he said, “the exact number of structures razed during the operation would be ascertained tomorrow morning as main focus of the anti-encroachment drive was to remove encroachers”.
It is pertinent to mention here that High Court, in a Public Interest Litigation, had recently issued directions for removal of encroachments from the JDA land in Gole Gujral area. The Court had also directed the SSP Jammu for providing necessary police assistance to JDA for removal of encroachers.
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