Vacate or pay for land occupied by forces in Kashmir, PDP

Srinagar, Feb 26 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said security forces, including Army, have occupied thousand hectares of land and buildings in Jammu and Kashmir without paying any compensation.

Addressing a press conference here this afternoon she said the security forces should either vacate or pay due compensation for the land and other buildings occupied by them in the Kashmir valley, Jammu and Ladakh regions.

She said about one per cent of the total land, other than forest and agriculture, are under the illegal occupation of the Army and other paramilitary troops in the Kashmir valley.

Similarly, she said, the Army and other security agencies in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region illegally occupied about 10,000 hectars of land. Majority of this land is in Leh, she added.

Ms Mufti said despite providing alternative accommodation to security forces, they are still occupying a tourist hut in the Kokernag garden. The security forces have also occupied hospitals and other government and private buildings, adding thatt at some places security forces have set up their camps thus blocking general people's movement. People had to take longer routes to reach their destinations because of these camps, she added.

UNI