JK: A neighbor offers to donate land after a journalist’s family loses their home in a demolition drive in Jammu
A day after the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) razed the house of a journalist’s father during an anti-encroachment operation, a Hindu neighbor on Friday came forward and offered the family a plot to rebuild their house, PTI reported.
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The demolition in the city of Jammu sparked a political storm, with leaders from various parties visiting the site, expressing support for the displaced families and accusing the authorities of carrying out “selective” enforcement.
Accompanied by his daughter Tanya, Kuldeep Kumar offered a five-marla plot to the journalist’s family in Jammu’s Transport Nagar area. “I am donating five marls through my daughter to the family so that my brother can rebuild his house,” Kumar told reporters, adding that he would also assist in the construction.
Jammu: People stand near the damaged house of a journalist after it was demolished by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in Jammu, Friday, November 28, 2025. (PTI Photo)(PTI11_28_2025_000440B)(PTI)Jammu: Family members inspect the damaged house of a journalist after it was demolished by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in Jammu, Friday, November 28, 2025. (PTI Photo)(PTI11_28_2025_000439A)(PTI)
The video of his donation deed to the affected family went viral on social media and drew a lot of praise.
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina, who visited the area and met the affected families, called the demolition “selective” and assured full support to the residents.
“It pained me to see this. Our Prime Minister believes in giving houses to the poor, not demolishing them. We will provide all help,” he said, describing Kuldeep Kumar’s gesture as a symbol of Jammu and Kashmir’s harmony.
Blaming the elected government for the action, Raina said, “The lieutenant governor did not use the bulldozer. I spoke to him and he said no such orders were issued. Where did the order come from? I will not politicize it.”
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The journalist said that the demolished structure belonged to his father and the family had lived there for 40 years. “No notice was served. It was selective targeting. Where were the authorities all this time?” he asked.
During an anti-encroachment operation on Thursday, the JDA used bulldozers to demolish unauthorized structures in the Transport Nagar area amid tight police security.
However, residents claimed they had lived there for almost 40 years and were removed without warning. Jammu and Kashmir Congress working president Raman Bhalla visited the site, criticized the JDA’s actions and called for accountability.
“Such things should not happen. Due process of law must be followed and people must be heard. This is an atrocity,” he said.
Selective demolition?
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegation led by senior leader Varinder Singh Sonu also visited the site and termed the action as “selective demolition”.
“Was just this three-marla house a hit? What about the big land grabbers? This is shameful,” Sonu said.
Saying that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was exercising direct control over the JDA as housing minister, Sonu said the National Conference (NC) government had rubbed salt in the wounds of people who expected the elected government to heal their scars.
He questioned why the action was limited to small landowners. “If it is necessary to remove encroachments, remove them from everywhere, including the most influential people. You call the owner of three marls a land rake, but what about the luxurious houses on hundreds of canals?” he asked.
According to the JDA, the demolition drive is part of ongoing efforts to clear encroachments from its land across Jammu. The Jammu and Kashmir government recently told a rally that over 16,000 canals of JDA land are being encroached in Jammu, PTI reported.
“The total encroached land of JDA is 16,212 kanals and two marlas. As far as Jammu Municipal Corporation is concerned, eight kanals and 16 marlas of land in Chatha are encroached,” the Chief Minister’s written reply in the Assembly said.
A certain portion of land has been transferred to JDA along with already existing encroachments, he added.
