SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference (JKGBYWC) and the J&K Forest Rights Coalition have expressed strong resentment and deep concern over the continuous harassment of seven nomad Bakerwal families in the Mehari Gujjran area of Rajouri District.
In a joint statement, Zahid Parwaz Choudhary, State President of JKGBYWC, and leaders of the Forest Rights Coalition strongly opposed the behavior of Forest Department authorities, who have been harassing these families under the guise of forest land protection for the past two years.
The leadership stated that the authorities have ignored the legal reality that the Forest Rights Act of 2006, passed by Parliament, empowers these communities and recognizes their traditional rights to the land. Furthermore, they emphasized that Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the fundamental right to life and livelihood for these citizens.
The leaders warned that any agency or officer violating these laws should be booked under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, which exists specifically to protect marginalized communities from such institutional abuse. By continuing this harassment, the Forest Department is also violating international standards, specifically Sustainable Development Goal 10, which focuses on reducing inequality.
They said it is particularly shocking and shameful that these families are being targeted despite possessing valid legal documents, including Ration Cards, Voter IDs, and Aadhaar cards, all of which are officially registered in that specific area. Moreover, for the past two years, Shazia Tabasum Choudhary, the local Sarpanch, has been fighting tirelessly to prevent the eviction of these families from their lands.
Despite approaching every relevant authority to plead their case, her efforts have gone unheard. She has once again appealed to the concerned Minister, the District Administration, and the Tribal Affairs Department to intervene and end this systematic harassment. She stated that during these two years, the families’ livelihoods have been ruined and their children’s education has suffered as they moved from pillar to post seeking justice. Shazia maintains that the authorities are directly responsible for the distress and instability these families are facing.
The JKGBYWC has now issued an urgent appeal to the Forest Minister, Javed Ahmed Rana, to intervene personally and take stern action against the erring officers. They have also called upon the Tribal Affairs Department, as the nodal agency for the Forest Rights Act, to immediately recommend the filing of an FIR against the forest officials involved for violating FRA norms.
The organizations expressed their deep disappointment over the “criminal silence” of the local MLA and other political leaders. They noted that it is the duty of elected representatives to speak out for a community that is already landless and vulnerable. The leadership concluded by stating they will no longer tolerate this treatment and are prepared to launch a full-scale campaign against those responsible for the two years of harassment faced by these families.