All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has expressed serious concern after a group of locals from Woukho Kakapora of Pulwama district staged a protest at the press enclave against the allotment of their agricultural land for the establishment of CRPF Camp in the area.
In a statement, APHC said that authorities are set to take over a large tract of agricultural land in Woukho village of Pulwama district for setting up a big CRPF establishment. “This has put their livelihood in great peril which the locals are resenting,”
APHC said that Kashmir being the world’s most militarised zone, already thousands of acres of land are in military possession, which has dispossessed the locals and people of Kashmir of the use of their natural resource, “By taking over peoples land and snatching their livelihood, through authoritarian orders, those in power are only adding to peoples woes, and implementing the agenda of demographic change.” The communique read.
APHC in the statement further asked the authorities to revoke the anti-people order of transfer of agricultural land for CRPF camp, and spare the locals the mental agony it is causing them.
Meanwhile, The residents of Wukho Kakapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district staged a protest on Monday at Srinagar’s press enclave and demanded revocation of order by Lieutenant Governor-led administration regarding transferring of 80 kanals of irrigation land to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The protesters chanted pro-justice slogans. Talking to the media persons, the protesters said, “This land was utilized by our ancestors for irrigation, then in 1967; the government of Jammu and Kashmir provided an irrigation scheme for this land and was used for irrigation purposes till date. This land is bread and butter for over 800 people.”
“If Prime Minister Narenrda Modi is serious in his claims and promises about the farmers then how come it is possible to transfer a huge land, meant for irrigation purpose, be transferred,” they said.
“We don’t need any compensation. We are dependent on this land. It is impossible to survive for us without this land as there is no option left with us to earn our bread and butter,” they added.
Threatening to intensify their protest, the residents said that in case the order is not revoked, they will continue to hit the streets to press for the demands.
“We appeal Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, LG administration, and all concerned authorities to revoke the order at an earliest so that the locals could heave a sigh of relief,” they said.
