Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) is under unprecedented censorship and facing Israeli Style Settler colonialism since India unilaterally and illegally revoked its special status under Article 370 and 35-A, said a fact sheet report issued by Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFK).
It stated that the massive administrative and legislative changes in IIOJK has removed the restriction that prevented a non-Kashmiri to buy any property for residential or commercial use.
The annulment of erstwhile state laws also allows the Indian armed forces to take over land wherever they desire and gives sweeping powers to the government to take over any land and property for “industrial” use.
UN-recognized disputed region is witnessing a new level of state persecution under the pretext of an anti-encroachment drive of alleged ‘State land’ aiming to disempower Kashmiris and uproot them from their homes.
The demolition drive has picked its pace in 20 Districts of IOJK where revenue officials, counter-insurgent cops and bulldozers remain active affecting the livelihood of Kashmiris.
The Legal Forum for Kashmir issued the fact sheet report titled “The Great Land Grab: Disempowering People in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir”.
The fact sheet has exposed the occupying state’s Israeli model of systematic settler colonial process in IOJK by allowing an alleged ‘Anti- encroachment drive’ against the civilian population of Jammu Kashmir with the aim to dislodge them from these Agricultural and non-Agriculture properties which would lead to their economic disempowerment, said a press release issued here.
The fact sheet has prepared the list of the Tehsil/Village wise area of land under the proper description and identified that land measuring 178005.213 acres in Kashmir region and 25,159.56 acres in Jammu forcibly taken by occupying authorities without serving any notices to occupants.
Most of these landholdings sustain the livelihood of the people. These landholdings have been molded into units of economic activity and sustenance over decades.
The report adds that the Revenue departments’ 11737 pages list of the alleged ‘State land’ issued in 20 districts of IOJK is basically owned by the Kashmiris under the Big Landed estate Abolition Act (Agrarian reforms act) , JK State land vesting of ownership Act 2001, JK Evacuees (Administration) of Property Act, Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Act 1980, Jammu and Kashmir Common Lands(Regulation) Act, 1956 and other numerous orders passed by the erstwhile state government in favor of Landless peasants.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2023.
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