J&K: Political row erupts after journalist’s home demolished; Hindu neighbour gifts him plot

A political row erupted in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday after the Jammu Development Authority demolished the home of journalist Arafaz Ahmad Daing in Jammu’s Narwal area, claiming it had been built on its land, NDTV reported.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Bharatiya Janata Party both questioned the manner in which the demolition was carried out.

The National Conference is in power in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the lieutenant governor, who functions under the BJP-ruled Union government, is in charge of law and order.

Amid the uproar, a Hindu neighbour gifted a plot of land to the journalist.

The single-storey structure, belonging to Daing’s family, was pulled down by Jammu Development Authority officials on Thursday morning, The Indian Express reported. The authority said the house had been constructed on land belonging to it.

Jammu Development Authority Vice Chairperson Rupesh Kumar said that the action was a “routine exercise” and part of an ongoing drive to remove encroachments from its land, the newspaper reported.

He said the family had been served a first notice on October 29, and when no reply was received, a second notice was issued on November 18.

Daing later submitted in writing that the Narwal house did not belong to him or his family, The Indian Express quoted the chairperson as saying.

The journalist, however, told reporters that the now-demolished...

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