Jammu Tawi, Jan 22: The inhabitants of Sunjwan and Bhatindi areas of Jammu city on Friday morning held a protest demonstration against the government authorities after an anti-encroachment drive was started in the wee hours.
Witnesses told us that the drive was objected by locals who resorted to stone pelting, damaging a police bus and other machines.
They said the protesters raised slogans against the municipal authorities and other concerned government departments.
Locals said that amid darkness, authorities pressed into service it's men and machinery to demolish structures in the area without serving any notice.
“The area is being targeted time and again despite the fact that a number of other localities in Jammu are also having structures on state land,” locals alleged.
They said that the case is sub-judice and authorities should have served notice to the residents to demolish structures in the area.
Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Sunjwan, said that those who have captured land in canals are free and those who are living on 2 or 3 marlas since 70 years are being targeted.
“If authorities talk about forest land, then GMC, High Court, and other important establishments besides dozens of areas are also lying on the same land, on which we are living, then they must be demolished first,” he said. “Such acts will have a bad impact on society and will create law and order problems.”
Locals said that even some leaders have their establishments on same land but they aren't being “targeted”.
However, officials said that driver of the JCB was injured during the incident besides that machinery was also damaged.
Despite repeated attempts, Commissioner JMC couldn't be contacted—(KNO)
