JAMMU: In a massive crackdown on land mafia, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday demolished structures on Forest Land in the city outskirts.
“A joint team of Jammu Forest Division, Urban Forestry Division, Police and district administration in an anti-encroachment drive demolished two structures on Forest Land in Forest Compartment No. 65/B of Billage Bandi which was illegally constructed by one Wali Mohd, son of Nek Mohd and seized Angle Iron Door, Frames GI Sheet and retrieved back two Kanal of forest land,” said Alok Maurya, DFO Jammu, who supervised the operation along with Sunil Singh DFO Urban Forestry Division.
The team of forest officials was led by Rakeshwar Singh Rana Range Officer Bahu, along with Rakesh Verma Range officer, Sunjwan, Anwar Mohd Block Officer Bahu and other forest field staff of Bahu and Sunjwan Forest Range.
“Taking advantage of lockdown imposed by the government the encroachers raised illegal structures on Forest land in Compartment No: 65/B of Village Bandi,” Alok Maurya said and added “On the request of Forest Department, Shridhar Patil, SSP Jammu deployed a police party headed by SDPO East, Vikram Bhagat and SHO Bagh-e-Bahu, Sunil Sharma who provided assistance for the operation.” Also, he said, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sushma Chouhan deputed Duty Magistrate Shiv Kumar Gupta Naib Tehsildar to tackle law and order situation.
In the operation, he said, two illegal structures constructed on forest land were demolished and 4 Kanal of area located on National Highway was vacated. He also requested police for lodging of FIR against the culprits.
He added that evicted forest area was properly fenced with chain link fencing to save it from any further encroachment.
Higher officials including PCCF J&K Dr. Mohit Gera, CCF Jammu K. Ramesh Kumar and CF East Circle Samuel Changkija appreciated the efforts of the officials and directed to take all the measures to prevent encroachment on Forest Land.
