Tral: Gujjar families, asked to vacate houses, demand justice

BASHARAT RASHID

Tral, 05 November: Dozens of Gujjar families in the Tral area of South Kashmir have been asked to vacate their houses, by the forest department, in twenty days.

Reports said that notice was given to more than 20 Gujjar families in Zajikhoud village of Ourigund Tral, who were asked to vacate their constructions in twenty days.

As per the officials, the said houses are constructed on the forest land for over decades and are being removed now.

The community members while talking to Arising State, however, expressed resentment over the govt. order and said that they are being deprived of their rights. They said that they have no other means of shelter, other than these houses.

Meanwhile, the D.F.O. forest department has said that there will be no compromise that supports encroachments.

He said that they have created categories pertaining to the removal of constructions from forest land, and will proceed step by step, complying with the rules.