Senior National conference leader and former MLA Kangan MianAltaf Ahmed has strongly condemned the government action against nomadic tribalcommunity in Bandipora by allegedly torching their hutments and harassing them.
Mian Altaf in a statement issued here has strongly condemnedthe burning down of Gujar Kothas and hutments in Chapran village of Bandiporadistrict in the guise of so called anti encroachment drive.
“The tribal community in Jammu and Kashmir was alreadyin the grip of fear and insecurity due to the many such incidents in Jammu andthe latest incident of torching their temporary structures in Chapran villagehas added to their worries and send shock waves in the entire nomadic communityafresh” he said.
Mian Altaf said that these nomadic families over decadesduring their annual migration to the hilly areas stay in several places neargrasslands where they have grazed their cattle for centuries , adding that thefact which the authorities should verify first before blindly going for theirselective targeting.
He said they have no other source of livelihood exceptgrazing of cattle and authorities should think thrice before evicting them fromtheir grazing land.
He said their eviction from the grazing land would give riseto a worst kind of law and order situation in the entire state.
Mian Altaf urged the Governor administration to probe intothe incident and Governor administration must issue instructions to stop thisimmediately. He also sought resettlement of the affected families.