Dislodged 10 yrs back by army, families search shelter



Tariq Mir
Bandipora, Jan 16: At least nine families dislodged by army personnel from a remote village of Labkachal, here 10 years back are wandering in search of shelter. The affected families have not been provided any kind of relief and compensation by army or district administration. In 1997, army personnel took over the residential houses of nine families in the far flung village of Labkachal on “security reasons”. The affected families were directed to search for alternative accommodation by the army officials.
Narrating the incident, Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, 72, said, “It was on July 28, 1997 when a contingent of soldiers led by their officials barged into our village. After cordoning of the entire village, they forcibly entered into our houses and occupied them. The soldiers took positions inside our houses and their officials told us that for security reasons they have taken over these houses and would vacate the places within few days”.“We did not take our belongings with us and expected the soldiers to leave our houses within some days. Days became weeks, week turned into months and nine years have elapsed since and army still continues to occupy our homes. They have clearly refused to vacate the buildings”, added Sheikh, a poor shepherd. Sheikh and other families rendered homeless by the soldiers have been wandering from past nine years. “Our condition is worse than nomads. Despite having our own houses, we have been rendered shelterless and homeless”, said Sheikh. The affected families alleged that the army personnel are not allowing them to move closer to their houses. “Even we are not allowed to plough our agricultural fields, adjacent to our houses. Our houses and orchards are in bad shape. The army is not paying any kind of rent to us and neither has it taken any measures to rehabilitate us”, they said. Sheikh and other affected families have taken up the matter with the civil administration. “After being rebuked by army officials, we brought the matter to the notice of the district administration time and again. We pleaded with the officials to get our houses liberated from army men so that we can return to our homes. We also sought rehabilitation, compensation and relief from the authorities”, said Sheikh. “Unfortunately our pleas and requests have fallen on deaf ears. The civil administration has neither taken up the matter with army nor given us any relief so far. We have just received documents and verbal assertions from officials that we would be provided some kind of relief by the government”, he said.Criticizing the district administration, Sheikh said, “We have been wandering from one place to another in search of shelter. Our family members especially children are facing tough times. They are the worst sufferers. Due to financial constraints, we cannot provide them education. The occupation of our houses by soldiers has made future bleak for our wards.” The affected families urged the chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad to intervene into the matter. “He should take up the matter with army officials and ensure that our houses are vacated by the soldiers. He should also instruct the administration to pay us relief”, added Sheikh.It is pertinent to mention that the Labkachal village is 43 kms away from the district headquarters of newly created Bandipora district. It is located at an altitude of 3000 ft above sea level. The village received heavy snowfall during winter months and remains inaccessible from the district headquarters for most part of winter.