‘Is my house the only illegal one?’: Outrage after journalist’s home flattened in Jammu

A demolition drive in Jammu has come under fire after authorities tore down the home of journalist Arfaz Ahmad Daing – the only structure targeted in the area that day. Daing alleges the action was carried out without prior notice and was a message to journalists who refuse to “toe the line”.

The Telegraph reported that Daing, who runs the digital news channel News Sehar India, said he was bruised and detained along with his two brothers while the demolition was underway in Jammu’s Narwal area. A video from the spot showed scores of policemen surrounding the site, monitoring the bulldozers and preventing him from filming a live commentary as the house was reduced to rubble.

The demolition has triggered sharp criticism from political leaders and lawyers who alleged that the administration had singled him out.

A report by The Hindu quoted Daing as saying, “Earlier, my house was demolished in Bathindi. I put up a brave face. I shifted to my parents’ house. This house too was demolished. The house existed for more than 40 years. It’s a selective drive. Only one house was demolished. Is my house the only illegal one in the entire Jammu city?” 

“This is a message for those who are into fair and truthful journalism. Toe their line, else your shelter will be taken away. It’s not easy to build a house,” he added, according to the report.

Senior Jammu lawyers Sheikh Shakeel and Zulkarnain Choudhary reportedly condemned the demolition, arguing that the JDA had violated the principle of equal application of the law. The paper quoted Shakeel as saying that one person was singled out. “One cannot justify encroachment, but the JDA should act against all big violators and follow the rules and procedures,” Shakeel told The Hindu.

PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para said: “The J&K government must stop this bulldozer practice and review its decision to reject PDP’s land regularisation bill. Homes are lives, not lines to be erased.”

CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said the reported absence of due notice was “deeply concerning.” “If his (Arfaz Daing) claims are true, it reflects a serious lapse in due process. No authority can bypass the procedure established by law. Accountability must follow.”

If the government can hike print ad rates by 26 percent, we can drop our subscription prices by 26 percent. Grab the offer and power journalism that doesn’t depend on advertisers.