Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Nov 16: A protest was held at Bilour Baribrahmana by the nomadic Gujjars whose houses were demolished by district administration Samba during an anti encroachment drive yesterday. Many houses were demolished and others were set on fire by the local authorities saying that these people are illegally residing there.
The Gujjar Bakarwal Desh Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Jammu president, Choudhary Nazakat Khatana condemned the unlawful demolition and gutting of houses at Bilour 4 No. Baribrahamna and warned that such inhuman acts will not be tolerated in future any more. “The Government is harassing the nomadic people all the time. Where will these poor people go in these cold Winter days, he asked”?. These people are now living under naked sky and are in great stress and in a situation of misery. These households are in shambles and they are living on the mercy of God, he added.
When protesting for their rights, these poor nomads are put behind bars and against some FIRs were registered without any fault of theirs. “ I want to say the authorities where will these nomads go”. As per Supreme Court of India, in order to save forests we have to save nomadic community and these nomadic people can settle on Government land. But nobody cares for them. These harassments are being witnessed all over the Jammu Division as in past the case of Sidhra Golf Club, Reasi and other places. Every time these nomads are targeting only to get political power. Also the names of some nomads have been deleted in voter list for Panchayat elections in many places which is of deep concern.
He appealed the Governor and other concerned authorities to look into the matter and find out the solution for these poor people so that they may be rehabilitate as per law.
Those who took part in the protest included Ch. Saraj Din, Ch. Sadiq, Ch. Gafoor, Shakoor Ahmed, Ashfaq Ahmed and others.
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