1 day ago
Jammu Demolishes Rohingya-Occupied Structures on Forest Land
Officials in Jammu demolished nearly a dozen huts built on forest land.
The huts were in an area called Rahim Nagar, inside Raika Forest.
Many people living there were Rohingya families who had fled Myanmar.
A forest official said residents had been warned and could take their belongings out first.
Some residents said they had nowhere to go after the demolition.
A man named Stephen said he was not given notice beforehand and had lived there for 10 to 12 years.
Officials said the action was about removing buildings from forest land, not targeting a particular community.
The authorities said they may take action against other identified encroachments too.
Authorities demolished nearly a dozen huts on forest land at Rahim Nagar, within Raika Forest, on the outskirts of Jammu.
Officials said the drive involved the forest department, Forest Protection Force, revenue department and police.
A forest official said occupants had been warned twice and were allowed to remove belongings before the structures were razed.
Residents, including Rohingya families and Jammu native Stephen, said the demolition left them without shelter; Stephen alleged he received no prior notice.
The action followed another eviction of a Rohingya settlement in Jammu last month; government data cited 7,656 Rohingyas identified across Jammu and Kashmir.
- Who
- The forest department and other authorities demolished huts occupied mostly by Rohingya immigrants; a Jammu native named Stephen was also affected.
- What
- Nearly a dozen structures on forest land were demolished in an anti-encroachment drive.
- Where
- Rahim Nagar, within the Raika Forest on the outskirts of Jammu.
- When
- Saturday, October 3; the article does not specify the year.
- Why
- Officials said the structures were illegal encroachments on forest land and that the action was not directed at any particular community.
Residents' accounts
Officials' account
Notice and time to leave
Residents' accounts
Stephen said he was not served prior notice and that the demolition team gave occupants little time to remove their belongings.
Officials' account
A forest official said residents had been warned twice within a fortnight and were allowed to remove their belongings before demolition.
Purpose of the drive
Residents' accounts
Affected Rohingya residents said they had fled difficult circumstances in Myanmar and were left without shelter, appealing for authorities to consider their families' situation.
Officials' account
The forest official said the operation targeted encroachments on forest land, not a particular community, and that the same forest rules applied to everyone.
Key facts
- Structures demolished
- Nearly a dozen huts
- Location
- Rahim Nagar within the Raika Forest, on the outskirts of Jammu
- Area involved
- Roughly five hectares
- Agencies involved
- Forest department, Forest Protection Force, revenue department and police
- Previous eviction
- A Rohingya settlement in Jammu's Karyani Talab area was cleared last month
- Rohingyas identified
- Government data presented to a committee in August listed 7,656 across Jammu and Kashmir: 6,737 in the Jammu region and 919 in the Kashmir Valley
Quotes
Forest official
An official involved in the forest department's anti-encroachment drive.
“The action was not directed against any particular community or group, but was solely aimed at removing encroachment from forest land. The forest rules are the same for everyone. There is no question of targeting any particular group. This action was solely against encroachments on forest land.”
theprint.in
“We escaped oppression in our country and took shelter here out of compulsion. We are not here to stay permanently. We hold identity cards issued by the United Nations.”
theprint.in
Sources
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