In a deeply disturbing and traumatic event, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) demolished temporary shops belonging to Kashmiri Pandit refugees at Muthi Camp, Jammu, early this morning, Jammu Kashmir Peace Forum has said.
In a statement issued to The Kashmiriyat, Satish Mahaldar, the president of the forum said that this callous act has left the already vulnerable refugee community in despair, further exacerbating the hardships they have endured for the past 35 years.
“The nation, and especially the Jammu Kashmir administration, is well aware of the plight of the Kashmiri Pandit refugees, who have been living in exile since the brutal exodus of 1989,” Mahaldar stated.
Despite their prolonged displacement, both the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir state administration have failed to implement any effective rehabilitation policy for them.
The statement added that this inaction has resulted in continued suffering for these families who are still struggling to rebuild their lives.
At least 12 temporary shops, which have been the primary source of livelihood for these refugees for the past 33 years, were destroyed in the demolition, JK Peace Forum claimed.
“These shops have not only been a means of survival but also a symbol of resilience for the displaced community,” the statement read.
The lack of due process and the absence of a prior notice—required by law before any demolition—are clear violations of the rights of these innocent people.
“We strongly condemn this inhumane act and demand immediate action from the Jammu and Kashmir government and call on Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir, to restore the temporary shops of the affected refugees so they do not face starvation and further hardship,” said the president of the Forum.
Furthermore, those responsible for this heartless action should be held accountable and punished according to the law.
This deliberate act, carried out with disregard for the law and the well-being of the refugee community, is a clear attempt by malicious elements to tarnish the image of the newly elected government, as per the statement.
They added that the refugees, who have already lost everything once, should not be subjected to further trauma and hardship. The government must act swiftly to address this issue and ensure that justice is served.
“We stand in solidarity with the Kashmiri Pandit refugees and urge the authorities to take immediate corrective measures to restore their dignity and rights. The government must show compassion and commitment to the welfare of all its citizens, particularly those who have been forced to live in exile for over three decades,” the statement of the Forum concluded.