Several ‘illegally’ constructed structures, allegedly used for cattle smuggling operations, were razed to the ground during a joint anti-encroachment drive carried out by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and local police in the Khanpura area of Nagrota, officials said.
The operation, aimed at reclaiming encroached government land, was conducted amid tight security arrangements, with enforcement teams arriving early morning to begin the demolitions.
According to officials, the structures lacked legal sanction and were illegally occupying state land, while also allegedly serving as operational points for unlawful cattle transport, a charge that has often been flagged in the Nagrota region.
“The drive was carried out following due legal process. All necessary notices were served prior to action,” said an official from the Jammu Development Authority, who added that the recovered land will be repurposed for public infrastructure in the future.
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However, the move drew sharp criticism from some of the affected individuals, who claimed they were being unfairly targeted.
“I have lived here for years. Suddenly they came with bulldozers and said it’s illegal. We were not given a fair hearing,” said a local whose shed was among the structures demolished.
Some residents accused the administration of high-handedness and called the action discriminatory. “Why only here? Why not in other parts of the city where similar structures exist?” asked another aggrieved person.
The demolition has stirred a debate over enforcement transparency, with local civil society groups urging authorities to publish full lists of encroachers and follow uniform procedures across all regions.
Meanwhile, JDA officials maintained that the drive was part of a wider campaign to eliminate encroachments and curb illegal activities linked to them.
