‘We have lost everything’: Kashmiri Pandits’ shops demolished in Jammu, political storm brews

The JDA action sparked protests from various quarters, with political parties including BJP, PDP and Apni Party, as well as several Kashmiri Pandit organisations, condemning it and demanding the construction of new shops for the affected members of the displaced community.

Sharing the video clip of the affected people on X, former J&K chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti described the demolition drive as “another blow to a community that has endured unimaginable hardships for decades”.

“What began as targeted demolitions of assets of the tribal community has now been extended to Kashmiri Pandits, further deepening their sense of alienation and loss,” she said, urging the Omar Abdullah government to intervene.

In the video shared by her, an elderly man is seen sobbing while saying: “Where will we go? We have lost everything.”

Another asked, “I think my heart will stop and I will collapse. What have they done to us?”

JDA vice chairman Pankaj Sharma said the affected people were given notice on January 20 and that they had subsequently given a written undertaking to the JDA that they would vacate the land by the end of February. However, the JDA could not follow up the matter after the expiry of the deadline due to the model code of conduct coming in place for Lok Sabha polls and then for the Assembly elections, he said.

Sharma said that at the site in the Muthi area, there were 25 kanals of land where the Kashmiri Pandit migrants were initially settled in one-room domed-type tenements, and were later rehabilitated to two-room flats at Purkhoo and Jagti. He said that even after this move, many had not vacated the initial settlements.

The site, Sharma said, had subsequently been identified for the construction of 208 flats for economically weaker sections of society, and as the tendering process for it was also complete, the land had to be handed over to the successful bidder. He also said before carrying out the demolition, JDA officials called the original allottees to the spot and opened the locks in their presence. He claimed that only one or two people were creating an issue.

Meanwhile, Relief Commissioner Arvind Karwani visited the area to assess the situation and assured the affected families that new shops would be constructed for them in the area.

“These shops were on JDA land. The relief organisation has floated tenders for constructing a shopping complex in Muthi Camp Phase II. Ten shops will be constructed soon and allotted to these shopkeepers,” he said.

After videos of the affected people sobbing were shared widely on the Internet, the issue triggered a political storm.

J&K Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said in a post on X, “If demolition was necessary, the administration should have first arranged alternatives to protect their livelihoods. Such actions are disappointing, especially under an elected government that is expected to prioritise the welfare of its citizens.” He called on the administration to ensure justice for the affected shop owners.

BJP Spokesperson G L Raina, who visited the site and met the affected families, termed the demolition “a revenge action soon after the return of the NC-Congress government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah”.

“JDA should have provided alternatives to these families. The government must stop targeting this hapless community,” he said.