Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 22 

The government on Friday constituted a three-member committee to investigate the demolition and eviction drive carried out at Raika Bandi in Sidhra area of Jammu on May 19, according to an official order.

The committee has been tasked with establishing the factual position surrounding the demolition, which has triggered political criticism and concern among tribal communities.

According to the order issued by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, the panel will examine the matter in light of a report submitted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu and Kashmir, along with the legal provisions applicable to the case.

Rajinder Singh Tara, secretary in the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, will head the committee. Its members include Satyendra Maurya, Divisional Forest Officer, Udhampur, and Rajesh Kumar Atri, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Jammu.

The panel has been directed to assess the factual position on the ground at Raika Bandi and hear all concerned parties before submitting its findings.

The government has asked the committee to submit its report within seven working days from the date of the order, which was issued by Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary to the government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment.

The move follows the demolition of houses belonging to Gujjar and Bakerwal families in the Raika area of Sidhra, which drew widespread attention in Jammu and Kashmir.

Official sources said the government had taken a serious view of the demolitions, particularly after reports indicated that several affected families were migrant Gujjars from rural Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region who had relocated to Jammu after facing violence and hardship.

Authorities are also examining the role of officials involved in the operation, and action could follow if any violations are established, the sources said.

Separately, the Tribal Affairs Department has constituted another fact-finding committee headed by senior officer Mumtaz Ali to investigate alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and constitutional safeguards available to Scheduled Tribes.

The demolition drive has sparked strong reactions within the Gujjar-Bakerwal community, with several tribal organisations alleging the action amounted to targeted harassment carried out under the cover of anti-encroachment and anti-drug enforcement operations.

Community representatives have alleged that Gujjar families in Jammu have faced repeated harassment and selective action over the years, while influential encroachers have largely avoided scrutiny.

The incident has also intensified criticism of the administration, with opposition leaders and civil society groups questioning accountability in the handling of the operation.

Political observers say the Raika Bandi demolitions could emerge as a significant issue in Jammu and Kashmir politics, particularly around tribal rights, administrative accountability and the enforcement of land and forest laws.