Wetland bleeds, they watch it die

The three villages, with a population of more than 12,000, were reportedly staunch supporters of then Social Welfare Minister Iftikhar Ansari who offered them ‘‘political protection’’ to keep his vote bank intact. Ansari eventually defeated Congress candidate Abdul Yatoo in Pattan.

Ansari, however, claimed that the Wildlife department wanted to defame him and it was they who had previously sold wetland area to Aukoonpora village: ‘‘They want to do the same again. They are liars.”

Wildlife officials watched the people raise the bund which took six weeks. ‘‘We took the problem to police and civil authorities but because of the poll fever and politics involved, they refused to act. Our people were beaten up many times by these villagers,’’ said Kashmir Regional Wildlife warden Mian Javeed. The report registered with Sopore police had named as many as 35 NC supporters for leading the villagers.

Javeed said his department has got a PIL admitted in J-K High Court and recently a police team and revenue officials studied the problem. ‘‘Even if it’s late, I think authorities have given the responsibility to Baramulla deputy commissioner and DIG to flush out the encroachers,’’ he said.

The three villages told The Indian Express they encroached upon the land for paddy cultivation because they are poor. They pointed out that encroachers were never evicted from adjoining Akhoonpora where they had taken up 1,500 kanal of wetland in 1996.

Javeed confirmed that people are determined not to vacate the land and they protest violently everytime police arrive to remove the bund. ‘‘It always becomes a law and order problem. Our ranger was recently beaten up and police and CRPF teams accompanying him on an eviction drive had to beat a hasty retreat,’’ said an official at Hygam.