The authorities on Wednesday demolished 50 shops which were constructed illegally on the state land in Tral town of Pulwama district.
An official said a team of officials from RevenueDepartment; Municipal Committee, Tral; R&B Department; police and CRPFpersonnel today appeared in the main town at about 6:30 am and starteddemolishing the shops in the bus stand Tral.
The official said many shopkeepers tried to resist but thedemolition drive continued.
“The process continued till evening and 50 shops illegallyconstructed on the state land were demolished” said the official.
The authorities also claimed to have retrieved around 120Kanals of land during the last four days of demolition drive in Tral town anddifferent areas including Deewar and Batagund.
The locals who owned the shops demanded their rehabilitationsaying they have been snatched of the only source of income.
The ADC, TralShabir Ahmad Raina confirmed that 50 shops weredemolished during the drive including some shops which were constructed arounda Chinar tree.
He said around 80 kanals of land were retrieved in Traltown, 16 kanals in Batagubd and around 20 kanals in Dewar.
He said though shopkeepers cannot ask for rehabilitation butthe department was “trying to see something for them on humanitarian grounds.”
Earlier 29 shops were demolished in Pulwama town to pave wayfor road widening.