Srinagar, May 20: The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in connection with the demolition of houses belonging to tribal families in the Raika Bandi area of Sidhra in Jammu.

According to an order issued by the Department of Tribal Affairs, the two-member panel has been tasked with examining whether due procedure under the Forest Rights Act was followed during the recent demolition drive and to submit its report within seven days.
The committee comprises Director Tribal Affairs J&K, Mohammad Mumtaz Ali (JKAS), and Assistant Director, Directorate of Tribal Affairs, Muzamil Hassan Choudhary (JKAS).
Officials said the inquiry will specifically assess alleged violations linked to the demolition of residential structures of tribal families carried out during an anti-encroachment operation conducted by teams from the Forest Department, Revenue Department and Police.
The action had sparked strong reactions from members of the Gujjar-Bakarwal community as well as political leaders, who alleged that the drive was executed without adequate notice and in violation of tribal safeguards under existing law.
The order has been issued on the directions of the J&K government amid growing public criticism over the scale and manner of the demolition exercise.
Cabinet Minister Javed Rana termed the operation “a targeted and cruel eviction aimed at terrorising and marginalising the tribal community.”
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also reacted sharply, claiming that around 60 houses were demolished in the area. She said her party had earlier introduced a bill in the Assembly seeking regularisation of small land holdings occupied by economically weaker sections to prevent such evictions, but it was not accepted.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within a week, after which the government is likely to decide further course of action.