Anti-Encroachment Drive Resumes In Jammu After Stone Pelting Incidents, Car Showroom Bulldozed

The showroom of M G Hector at Malik market along Narwal bypass was demolished during the anti-encroachment drive by the revenue department under stringent security arrangements, the officials said

Security personnel deployed outside the automobile showroom, which was demolished during the anti-encroachment drive in Jammu.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: A car showroom was demolished during an anti-encroachment drive to retrieve state land in Jammu, a week after the exercise was abandoned following incidents of stone pelting by a group of agitated locals, said the authorities on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. 

The showroom of M G Hector at Malik market along Narwal bypass was demolished by the revenue department under stringent security arrangements, they said.

Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength in the locality and adjoining Bhatindi, Sunjwan and Channi before the bulldozers were moved in the morning to bring down the building, the officials said. 

As per the report, the bypass from Bhatindi to the Sunjwan Army garrison was also closed for vehicular traffic, while security forces were seen patrolling the interior localities to maintain law and order.

The area had witnessed stone pelting activities on February 4 when the joint teams of revenue and police officials started demolishing the building, forcing them to abandon the process. Several persons were arrested following the clashes which left a policeman injured. 

On Wednesday, Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti was detained by police in Delhi while protesting against the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s anti-encroachment drive. Mufti alleged that BJP was using its brute majority to 'weaponise' everything and 'bulldoze' the Constitution.

Even as major political parties including the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP have voiced their concerns against the drive and demanded an immediate end to it, the authorities have so far retrieved more than 10 lakh kanals of land across Jammu and Kashmir after the Commissioner Secretary, Revenue department, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri directed all deputy commissioners to ensure 100 per cent removal of encroachments from the state land including Roshni and Kahcharai (grazing) on January 7.