The Biz Reporter
Jammu, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed heated scenes on Friday after BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa alleged that people from the Kashmir Valley had encroached upon government land in Jammu city, triggering strong objections from ruling party members.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Randhawa claimed that habitations belonging to people from the Valley had come up on land owned by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and the government. He alleged that nearly 90 per cent of such encroachments involved people hailing from Kashmir.
“We have no objection if anyone legally purchases land and builds a house. But government land cannot be occupied,” he said, demanding a probe and immediate eviction in his constituency. He further claimed that over 16,000 kanals of JDA land in Jammu were under encroachment.
Responding on behalf of the Chief Minister, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo said official records showed that 688 kanals and 17 marlas in Tehsil Bahu and 579 kanals in Tehsil Jammu South were under illegal occupation. She clarified that these encroachments were old and were being removed under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act and other applicable laws.
The minister informed the House that since January 2025, 34 anti-encroachment drives had been conducted in the two tehsils, leading to retrieval of 140 kanals and 11 marlas of JDA land. Fencing and signboards have also been installed to prevent fresh encroachments.
Rejecting Randhawa’s regional angle, Itoo said encroachment issues should not be viewed through a Jammu-versus-Kashmir prism. “Jammu and Kashmir should not be divided on such grounds,” she asserted.
The BJP MLA later walked into the well of the House, holding documents and demanding immediate action. His remarks drew protests from ruling National Conference members, leading to brief disruptions.
The minister also said that joint teams of junior engineers, patwaris and field staff regularly monitor JDA land and report encroachment attempts. She added that action has been taken against erring officials, including warnings, suspensions, red entries in service books and withholding of increments. Red entries have been made against two officials in connection with alleged involvement in land encroachment cases in Tehsil Jammu South.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Randhawa accused the government of withholding the list of encroachers. “Why has the government failed to provide me with the list?” he asked.
The issue sparked sharp exchanges in the House, reflecting the sensitive nature of land and regional identity in Jammu and Kashmir politics.
