Authorities in Jammu demolished nearly a dozen huts, mostly occupied by Rohingya families, in a fresh anti-encroachment drive on forest land, leaving several families without shelter.

The demolition was carried out on Saturday in Rahim Nagar, within the Raika Forest on the outskirts of Jammu, by the forest department with support from the Forest Protection Force, revenue officials and police.

Officials said the structures had been built illegally on about five hectares of forest land. They maintained that the operation was not aimed at any particular community and that all identified encroachments would face similar action.

A forest official said residents had been warned twice within a fortnight before the demolition. He also said occupants were given an opportunity to remove their belongings before the structures were pulled down, with women and children moved to safety with the help of female police personnel.

However, some residents disputed the authorities’ account.

Stephen, a Jammu native whose structure was also demolished, said he received no prior notice and was given little time to collect his belongings. He said he had lived in the area for 10 to 12 years and was now struggling to find shelter for his children.

Rohingya families said they had lived in the settlement for nearly two decades after fleeing persecution and insecurity in Myanmar.

“We escaped oppression in our country and took shelter here out of compulsion. We are not here to stay permanently,” Rohingya resident Abdul Khaliq said, according to The Print.

Khaliq said many families had nowhere to go after the demolition and appealed to authorities to consider the situation of children and other vulnerable residents.

The latest action follows the clearance last month of a Rohingya settlement in Karyani Talab, where authorities issued eviction notices to landowners who had rented plots to Rohingya residents.

The successive eviction drives have come after a central committee examining demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir visited the region from Aug. 10 to 12. The committee also visited the Karyani Talab settlement as part of its assessment of alleged illegal immigration and demographic changes.

Government figures presented to the committee in August showed that 7,656 Rohingyas had been identified across Jammu and Kashmir. Of them, 6,737 were recorded in the 10 districts of the Jammu region and 919 in the 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley.

The committee was formed on May 26 under retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navalkar to examine demographic changes and recommend administrative and legal measures.

The forest department said further action would follow against other identified encroachments, advising those affected to seek rented accommodation or acquire land through legal channels.

BOB Post