JAMMU: Authorities on Saturday demolished nearly a dozen illegally constructed huts on forest land in Rahim Nagar, within the Raika Forest area on the outskirts of Jammu, officials said.
The anti-encroachment operation was conducted jointly by the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force, Revenue Department and police. Officials said most of the demolished structures were occupied by Rohingya immigrants.
A forest official said the action was part of an ongoing drive to remove encroachments from forest land and was not directed against any particular community. The area covered roughly five hectares, and the department had prepared detailed records of the identified encroachments.
The official said occupants had been warned twice within a fortnight before the demolition. He also claimed that residents were given an opportunity to remove their belongings before the structures were razed, while women and children were moved out with the assistance of women police personnel.
However, Stephen, a Jammu native whose hut was among those demolished, alleged that he was not served any prior notice and that the demolition team arrived early in the morning, leaving little time to remove his belongings. He said he had been living there with his children for around 10-12 years and was now left without shelter.
Rohingya residents also said they had been living in the area for nearly two decades after fleeing Myanmar. Abdul Khaliq said the families had nowhere to go and expressed concern over the future of their children.
The latest action comes a month after authorities cleared a Rohingya settlement in Karyani Talab, following eviction notices to owners who had rented out plots to immigrants.
The eviction drives followed a visit by a Central committee on demographic changes to Jammu from August 10 to 12. The committee, headed by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navalkar, was constituted on May 26 to examine demographic changes and recommend administrative and legal measures.
According to government data presented to the committee in August, 7,656 Rohingyas had been identified across Jammu and Kashmir, including 6,737 in the 10 districts of the Jammu region and 919 in the 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley.
Authorities said further action would be taken against other identified encroachments on forest land in accordance with applicable rules.
